Page 93 - All About History - Issue 186-19

Book Of The
Bronze Age
Book TV Podcast How did the simple discovery of

a new form of metal change the
course of human history? That’s the
question you’ll find the answer to
Film Games Other in our latest special on the Bronze
Age. From Ancient Mesopotamia
to Northern Europe, this book
explores the way that Copper
Age discoveries helped to pave Out
Reviews by the way for new technologies. now!
Catherine Curzon, Jessica Leggett Learn how the need to trade
in order to properly make
bronze helped to push new vehicle designs, improved
trading routes, brought civilisations into contact with
THE REINVENTION book is a must-read for anyone who’s interested in
one another for the first time and so much more. This

humanity’s early history.
OF HUMANITY Buy the All About History Book Of The

Bronze Age in shops or online at
myfavouritemagazines.com
An enthralling and irresistible tale of anthropological pioneers Price: £12.99

Author Charles King Publisher Bodley Head Price £25 Released Out now

n the early 20th century, Franz Boas led a small novelties to be looked at from a distance, Boas’
group of anthropologists – most of them women and his researchers turned accepted wisdom on its
– as they undertook a journey around the globe head. They immersed themselves in isolated and
in an effort to ascertain just how deeply race little-understood communities and proved that
Iand gender impacted on intelligence, culture and the supposedly unshakeable conclusions of the
societal roles. The Reinvention Of Humanity follows scientific establishment when it came to hierarchies
this groundbreaking study and unravels not only of race, gender and role were wrong.
the complexities of the scientists at its heart, but The Reinvention Of Humanity is a scholarly and in
also the groundbreaking discoveries they made, many ways deeply touching book. Charles King’s
which challenged long-accepted beliefs. prose is immensely readable and perceptive, and
This fascinating and very readable work recreates lends itself perfectly to telling one of the most
a world in which science had already decided fascinating tales of 20th century science.
on an intellectual pecking order. It was a world The study conducted by Boas and
ripe for change and in his study of Boas and his his researchers revolutionised
researchers – all of whom were outsiders to the anthropological and cultural Touching
establishment in their own way – King proves to understanding and King’s Enthralling
be a masterful and sensitive storyteller. In a world retelling of it is nothing short Magnificent
that sectioned off so-called ‘primitive cultures’ as of magnificent. CC

THE ZOOKEEPERS’ WAR

A Cold War tale that’s too out-there for fiction

Author JW Mohnhaupt, Shelley Frisch (Translator)
Publisher Simon & Schuster Price £18.99 Released Out now

old War Berlin was famously a city of two From the moment rival zoo directors came to
diametrically opposed halves. It was also blows, the inherent absurdity of The Zookeepers’
a city of two zoos, and as the 1960s rolled War never lets up. As gifts of animals were
on those institutions went to war with received from overseas dignitaries and both
Ceach other. The Zookeepers’ War tells the zoos sought to provide the most impressive
bizarre story of the two zoos on either side of the and expensive collection, soon the politicians
Berlin Wall as they engaged in a desperate race to got involved too. After all, what could be better
outdo the other. It sounds like fiction, but every evidence of a superior regime and ideology than
word is, in fact, true. a thriving zoo for its people to visit? These zoos
Can there be a more perfect metaphor for a city became a Cold War battleground.
divided than this? In the Russian-ruled East Berlin The Zookeepers’ War is also a fascinating
the animals were housed in the Tierpark, which chronicle of a changing world and a
was intended to be a lush and verdant socialist city of literally two halves. With its
paradise. In the Allied-governed West Berlin was reflections on politics, gender and
the far older Zoologischer Garten, well-established the resilience of the German Absurd
by the time the new zoo opened in 1955 to meet people, Mohnhaupt’s work is Engaging
the needs of those people on the other side of the a fascinating look at a very Engrossing
Berlin Wall. peculiar rivalry indeed. CC

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