john julius norwich

John Julius Norwich's new book - "The Great Cities in History" - selects a list of major cities that have been hugely influential throughout their eras. The cities that were chosen spanned across the globe, and you can read more about them in my recent article. In addition, you should definitely also watch Heritage Key's video interview with Lord Norwich himself as he discusses his book, and how he came to choose the cities that made it to the final edition.

After Heritage Key's recent video interview with John Julius Norwich on his new book "The Great Cities in History" (which you should definately watch here) I wrote an article looking at the greatest ancient cities that Lord Norwich selected. With cities across the globe and ranging from the Greeks and Romans, to the Egyptians and Muslims, as far as the Indus Valley and Chinese to the Mayan Civilisation.

We've already heard Lord Norwich's warnings about the perilous future of his beloved Venice (watch this video). But throughout human history, what have been the planet's greatest cities - and how did they come to be? Lord Norwich's latest book, The Great Cities in History (see more info here) attempts to explain that over 300 pages of exquisite photography and expert opinion on 70 of man's greatest settlements.

Next Saturday Venice will be holding its own funeral. As far as publicity stunts go, it's quite an unequivocal message that the city is on the brink. Only this time the threat is not from the rising tides and the island city's subsiding foundations; the danger comes in the form of the rapidly shrinking population – it seems that the Venetians are migrating to the mainland faster than you can say 'just one cornetto'.

According to one group of locals – members of the online community venessia.com - the population has now fallen below the threshold of 60,000 people (down from about 150,000 in 1960) and the city's inhabitants are being driven out of their ancestral homes by property, food and transport prices far higher than those on the mainland. The main reason for the soaring cost of living is the relentless flow of tourists to the small city. As a result the local Venetians are being priced out of their historical island city.

Legendary history writer John Julius Norwich knows Venice better than most, if not all. Having recently edited The Great Cities in History (Thames & Hudson; see more info here), an epic ramble through the pioneering places in human history, he has also penned A History of Venice: The Rise to Empire and Venice: A Traveller's Companion - and was, until recently, on the board of the Venice in Peril Fund. No surprises, then, that Venice occupies its own page in Great Cities, at the pinnacle of renaissance culture.

It's not just amazing artefacts, stunning heritage sites and great personalities and experts which make Heritage Key's vast online vaults (that's not to mention King Tut Virtual, and the forthcoming Stonehenge Virtual).

We've also got our fingers on the ancient world's literary pulse, bringing you the best serious - and not so - publications from all over the world. We have details of hundreds of books, and are constantly adding to our database.

We cover the most important, and the latest, titles in the field of ancient history and archaeology. Many of our book reviewers are experts, writers and publishers, so you can be certain of an expert opinion on the latest titles.

If you find that crucial text for your research, you can go directly to the book's Amazon page to buy it right there and then.

From unhinged Gauls to the bleeding edge of archaeological technology, Heritage Key has got it covered. Here are some of our favourites from the latest tomes to hit our virtual bookshelves: