An “insightful cultural history of the mythical, self-immolating bird” from Ancient Egypt to contemporary pop culture by the author of The Book of Gryphons (Library Journal).

Katherine Storm Hindley explores the power of medieval charms, drawing on an extensive archive from 1100-1350 CE. She examines how spoken and written words were believed to ensure health and safety, revealing surprising links across languages and eras. 

As a comedian and conservative thinker, whip-smart funny Tom Shillue grounds his ideas about our current culture and political climate in stories from his childhood — a portrait of growing up in 1970s America.

The international bestselling author answers readers’ questions and discusses the origins of the Oxford inspector with a penchant for classical music.