To the god of old thingsTo the gods of the riverbankTo the god of huntersAssyria, 7th century BC. For Aurya and her daydreaming brother, every day is a struggle till their fates become inextricably bound to that of King Ashurbanipal, and they find themselves bound for the beautiful, near-mythical city of Nineveh.Twenty-six centuries later, British-Iraqi archaeologist Katya joins a dig in Mosul to protect the ancient ruins of Nineveh from organised looters. When a rare carving is discovered, they know their find will attract the world's attention. But everything changes when ISIL lays siege on Mosul.All Our Broken Idols is hauntingly evocative, a novel in which past and present lives intertwine and stories travel across the ages. It is a story about the importance of art and the threat it poses to those in power, and a story about what we are willing to do for the ones we love.
Paul M. M. Cooper Books
Paul Cooper is a writer whose work is deeply influenced by his experiences exploring ancient and modern ruins, particularly in Sri Lanka. His prose is characterized by a keen eye for detail and a contemplative style, inviting readers to reflect on history, memory, and the passage of time. Cooper skillfully weaves together observations of the physical world with introspective insights, creating a unique literary tapestry that resonates with a sense of place and enduring human stories. His writing offers a profound meditation on the remnants of civilizations and the echoes they leave behind.




'An extraordinary debut ... River of Ink is what historical fiction should be: immersive, illuminating and captivating' The Times 'Vivid and compelling' Mail on Sunday 'A powerful and timely fable about freedom, resistance and the secret might of the weak' Financial Times _____________ From his humble village beginnings, Asanka has risen to the prestigious position of court poet in the great island kingdom of Lanka, delighting in a life of ease. But when the ruthless Kalinga Magha violently usurps the throne, Asanka's world is changed beyond imagination. To his horror, the king tasks him with the translation of an epic poem designed to civilise his subjects and snuff out the fires of rebellion... Asanka has always believed that poetry makes nothing happen, but as lines on the page become cries in the street he learns that true power lies not at the point of a sword, but in the tip of a pen.
Explains the difference between the conceptualist and the usual approaches to designing gardens and landscapes.
Based on the podcast with over 100 million downloads, Fall of Civilizations brilliantly explores how a range of ancient societies rose to power and sophistication, and how they tipped over into collapse.