Homo Criminalis

This is a new book. Condition: Brand New.

A witty whistle-stop tour through organised crime across the centuries, by acclaimed historian and journalist Mark Galeotti, exploring how the underworld shapes our overworld, perfect for fans of Otto English.

'Glittering... the author's obvious enthusiasm for the subject is matched by impressive erudition' The Spectator

'The readable, scary, fun beach read of new crime literature' Financial Times

When does a bandit become a monarch? When does a gang become a government? And is organised crime at the heart of every modern state?

On a thrilling whistle-stop tour of how the world's criminal underbelly has shaped state-making, capitalism, globalisation and all forms of so-called legitimate power, Homo Criminalis shows the emergence of modern society through the evolution of the underworld and its crimes. From Chinese banditry and eighteenth-century English tea smuggling to today's cocaine submarines and the high-tech crimes of tomorrow, this book shows us how the world's dark underbelly shapes us, no matter how we try to outpace it.

Entertaining, engaging and packed full of fascinating stories, Homo Criminalis is a book for those who want to see our grand story of progress through the surprising and subversive new lens of organised crime.

Book details and technical specifications

Format: Paperback / softback
ISBN13: 9781529148237
Published: August 2025

Number of pages: 320
Width: 155 mm
Height: 234 mm
Depth: 24 mm

Publisher: Ebury Publishing