At Will Durant's death in 1981, his personal papers were dispersed among relatives, collectors, and archive houses. Twenty years later, scholar John Little discovered the previously unknown manuscript of Heroes of History in Durant's granddaughter's garage. Written shortly before he died, these twenty-one essays serve as an abbreviated version of Durant's bestselling, eleven-volume series, The Story of Civilization. Durant traces the lives and ideas of those who have helped to define civilization, from Confucius to Shakespeare, from the Roman Empire to the Reformation, spanning thousands of years of human history. A volume of life-enhancing wit and wisdom, Heroes of History draws upon Durant's expansive knowledge and singular ability to translate distant events and complex ideas into easily accessible principles.
"An old-fashioned air about it…Fans of Durant's brand of sweeping narrative history will enjoy having these final words from the master."
Amazon.com, editorial review
"[Durant] again displays his talents for popularizing history, most notably a remarkable ability to summarize complicated thoughts and events in a few succinct words…This book is likely to find a wide audience among those looking for an introduction to world history."
