Terry Deary for A History of the World in Ten Wars

Terry Deary is coming to Topping & Company Booksellers on Monday 12 October, where he'll be talking about his new book, A History of the World in Ten Wars. If you've spent any time in a children's section over the last few decades, you'll know the name: he's the man behind the Horrible Histories series, the one that turned history into something kids actually wanted to read.

A History of the World in Ten Wars is written in that same trademark style—humorous, fast-paced, and not afraid to lean into the more chaotic side of the past. The premise is straightforward: ten wars that shaped the world, and what we can learn from the battles fought across the ages. It's a page-turner that manages to be a history of the world without feeling like a textbook, and the evening is built around that.

Deary's a heavy hitter in the world of non-fiction. He's written more than 350 books, with over 38 million copies sold in 45 languages, and Horrible Histories made him the best-selling children's non-fiction writer since records began. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Education by Sunderland University in 2000, and when he's not writing, he lives in County Durham with his wife Jenny and spends his spare time as an avid road runner.

The talk runs from 7pm to 8pm at Topping & Company Booksellers, 1 Museum Street, York YO1 7DT, with doors opening at 6.30pm.