Drawing on unique visual methods, Where Am I in the Picture? explores researcher positionality in transnational studies of rurality.

'Frances Stonor Saunders has almost single-handedly started off a branch of sub-history; the cultural cold war. Who Paid The Piper? is an extraordinarily good book and I do recommend it to anyone who's remotely interested in the period'- Ian McEwan author of Sweet Tooth

Listen to David Hesmondhalgh discuss the arguments at the core of 'Why Music Matters' with Laurie Taylor on BBC Radio 4's Thinking Allowed here.

This is a brilliant history of the rise to dominance of the West, exploring the links between cultural values and military success.

How did wine surpass all other beverages to achieve global domination? In Wine, Marc Millon travels back to the origins of modern man to find the answer, discovering that this heady drink is intertwined with the roots of civilization itself.

Writing is a defining marker of civilisation; without it there could be no accumulation of knowledge. Andrew Robinson tells the fascinating story of the history of writing, considering its development, and examining the enormous variety of writing and scripts we use today.

A leading critic traces three decades of contemporary dance from Balanchine to breakdancing

Much has been written about the effects of British culture on colonized people, but this study suggests that the influence worked both ways. Focusing on the relationship between literature and metropolitan culture, it discusses the cultural confusion caused by bringing the foreign home.

Zen has had a profound impact on the art and culture of Japan. Blair provides a visual journey through its influence on Japanese life, from calligraphy to the martial arts.