Bring Out Your Dead

We like to think history is shaped by great leaders, revolutions and moments of brilliance. But look a little closer, and you'll find it's often the tiniest adversaries - microbes - that have determined where we live, how we dress, the laws we pass and even the myths we tell. From ancient settlements to modern cities, plagues have repeatedly forced humanity to adapt, often in ways that linger long after the diseases themselves have faded. In Bring Out Your Dead, medical historian Dr Suzie Edge tells the story of humanity through its battles with seven devastating diseases, revealing how germs have steered architecture, fashion, etiquette and culture itself. With her trademark humour and sharp insight, Suzie brings readers face to face with the microbes that have shaped our world - offering a gripping, accessible and surprising new perspective on human progress. Combining rich historical storytelling with wit and irreverence, the book serves to remind us that our greatest rival has always been smaller than the eye can see - and that in telling the story of disease, we are really telling the story of ourselves.