A Short History of the World in 50 Failures
Couldn't load pickup availability
Explore the failures, mistakes and missed opportunities that shaped history in this new entry in the bestselling series.
From the botched attempt to create a life-extending elixir that produced gunpowder, to the unsuccessful stint in medical school which led to a career in naturalism for Charles Darwin, to the missile detection system malfunction that almost sparked a nuclear war, the course of human history has so often been shaped by failures of all magnitudes.
In fifty bite-sized chapters spanning thousands of years, A Short History of the World in 50 Failures details how the world as we know it has been defined by plans gone awry, opportunities not seized upon and schemes that were always fated to end in catastrophe.
Whether it’s the pharaoh Akhenaten’s misplaced attempt to found a new religion or Napoleon’s doomed invasion of Russia, discover a fascinating collection of outsized tales and historical snafus that created the world as we know it today.
Our deliveries are now carbon neutral.
Orders over £75* will qualify for FREE standard shipping within the UK.
|
Order value |
Under £25 |
£25 - £75 |
Over £75 |
Timescale |
|
UK Standard |
£ 3.50 |
£ 5.00 |
FREE |
up to 7 Business Days |
Please allow 7 working days from the time you place your order to contact us about undelivered orders.
*does not include custom prints or custom clothing.
Local pick up
Local pick up is free and allows you to buy online and collect your items from our shop in St. Pancras (London) or from Reception in Boston Spa.
London
Orders placed before 3pm will be ready to collect from noon the following day (including weekends). Please ensure you check our opening times before coming to collect.
Boston Spa
Orders placed before 3pm will be ready to collect between 2 - 4 working days, though this is usually quicker.
North American and Rest of the World orders
|
Order value |
Under £25 |
£25 - £50 |
£50 - £100 |
Over £100 |
Timescale |
|
Airmail |
£ 20 |
£ 30 |
£ 40 |
£ 50 |
Usually 2 - 4 weeks |
EU and Europe orders
Due to the new EU Regulation 2023/988 (GPSR), we are temporarily pausing shipments to Europe, including the Republic of Ireland. We understand this may be disappointing, and we are working to resume our services as soon as possible. Please check this page for updates.
For more detailed information click here