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Homo Criminalis

How crime organises the world
By Mark Galeotti
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Brief Description
A landmark new book on the story of crime, and its contribution to the evolution of society, by the acclaimed historian Mark Galeotti, perfect for fans of Sapiens. Crime doesn't just pay, it tells. What we choose to ban, penalise or prosecute says something about us;... Read More
Format: Paperback / softback
$3000
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A landmark new book on the story of crime, and its contribution to the evolution of society, by the acclaimed historian Mark Galeotti, perfect for fans of Sapiens.

Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A landmark new book on the story of crime, and its contribution to the evolution of society, by the acclaimed historian Mark Galeotti, perfect for fans of Sapiens.

Crime doesn't just pay, it tells. What we choose to ban, penalise or prosecute says something about us; and how far the mobsters and mafias are still able to ply their trades says something about us, too.

Homo Criminalis tells a thrilling tale of the world's changing values, the rise of the state, and 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 aims to show just how far society has changed—and how crime has changed with us.

Often considered marginal or an aberration, we'll see how the power structures and power struggles of the criminal world have actually worked to drive progress, forming the necessary dark underbelly of humanity's evolution.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9781529148244

Publisher: Ebury Publishing

Format: Paperback / softback

Date Published: 06 August 2026

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Ebury Press

Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 21.0mm

Width: 128.0mm

Height: 197.0mm

Weight: 240g

Pages: 320

Collections

Biography & Memoir Crime & Thriller Education & Reference Fiction History & Archaeology History & Military Mark Galeotti Penguin Books Pre-order Books Pre-Order Crime & Thriller Pre-orders Pre-orders by Release Date True Crime

About the Author

Mark Galeotti is one of the world's leading experts on Russian crime and security (which are often one and the same), which may explain why Moscow banned him in 2022. After a stint with the Foreign Office, he has been a scholar and think-tanker in London, New York, Moscow, Prague and Florence. He now heads the consultancy Mayak Intelligence and is an honorary professor at University College London and a senior fellow with RUSI and the Council on Geostrategy. A prolific author, he frequently acts as consultant to various government, commercial and law-enforcement agencies and has briefed everyone from prime ministers to CEOs.

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