A History of the World in 100 Objects

Neil MacGregor's "A History of the World in 100 Objects" takes a bold, original approach to human history, exploring past civilizations through the objects that defined them. Encompassing a grand sweep of human history, "A History of the World in 100 Objects" begins with one of the earliest surviving objects made by human hands, a chopping tool from the Olduvai gorge in Africa, and ends with objects which characterise the world we live in today. Seen through MacGregor's eyes, history is a kaleidoscope - shifting, interconnected, constantly surprising, and shaping our world today in ways that most of us have never imagined. A stone pillar tells us about a great Indian emperor preaching tolerance to his people; Spanish pieces of eight tell us about the beginning of a global currency; and an early Victorian tea-set speaks to us about the impact of empire. An intellectual and visual feast, this is one of the most engrossing and unusual history books published in years. "Brilliant, engagingly written, deeply researched". (Mary Beard, "Guardian"). "A triumph: hugely popular, and rightly lauded as one of the most effective and intellectually ambitious initiatives in the making of 'public history' for many decades". ("Sunday Telegraph"). "Highly intelligent, delightfully written and utterly absorbing". (Timothy Clifford, "Spectator"). "This is a story book, vivid and witty, shining with insights, connections, shocks and delights". (Gillian Reynolds, "Daily Telegraph"). Neil MacGregor has been Director of the British Museum since August 2002. His latest book, "Shakespeare's Restless World" is an enthralling exploration of Shakespeare's world, and of the minds of his audiences, based on Neil MacGregor's new 20-part BBC Radio 4 series. MacGregor was previously Director of the National Gallery in London from 1987 to 2002.

尼尔•麦格雷戈 // Neil MacGregor

大英博物馆馆长，伦敦古文物学会成员，英国著名艺术史学者。

1946年出生于苏格兰格拉斯哥，在牛津大学研修德文与法文，后在法国巴黎高等师范学校攻读哲学，之后在爱丁堡大学修习法律，1972年取得苏格兰律师执照。1973年在英国首屈一指的艺术史学院考陶德艺术学院研修艺术史。

1975年至1981年，在英国雷丁大学教授艺术与建筑史。1981年至1987年，主编英语世界历史最悠久的美术及装饰艺术期刊《伯林顿杂志》。1987年至2002年，主持英国国家美术馆。2002年至今，任大英博物馆馆长。2010年，获英国女王颁赠功绩勋章。

主要作品有《目睹拯救：艺术作品中的基督形象》《大师之作的诞生》《莎士比亚的动荡世界》等。