History of the World in 51 Heroes and Villains

Welcome to a shadowy realm where the divide between the noble and the nefarious isn't quite as clear as it seems. Where supposed saints appear suspiciously traitorous, and so-called scoundrels reveal unexpected glimmers of virtue. Prepare for sword fights, scandals and enough moral ambiguity to make Machiavelli blush - from the imperial court of eleventh-century Japan to the studios of twentieth-century Hollywood.