Overview

Why is it easy to hate and difficult to love? When societies fracture into warring tribes, we demonise those who oppose us. We tear down our statues, forgetting that what begins with the destruction of statues, often leads to the killing of people. Blending history, philosophy and psychology, A History of Love and Hate in 21 Statues is a compelling exploration of identity and power. This remarkable book spans every continent, religion and era, through the creation and destruction of 21 statues from Hatshepsut and the Buddhas of Bamiyan to Mendelssohn, Edward Colston and Frederick Douglass. The 21 statues are Hatshepsut (Ancient Egypt), Nero (Suffolk, UK), Athena (Syria), Buddhas of Bamiyan (Afghanistan), Hecate (Constantinople), Our Lady of Caversham (near Reading, UK), Huitzilopochtli (Mexico), Confucius (China), Louis XV (France), Mendelssohn (Germany), The Confederate Monument (US), Sir John A. Macdonald (Canada), Christopher Columbus (Venezuela), Edward Colston (Bristol, UK), Cecil Rhodes (South Africa), George Washington (US), Stalin (Hungary), Yagan (Australia), Saddam Hussein (Iraq), B. R. Ambedkar (India) and Frederick Douglass (US).  

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9780711266131

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Reviews

'Fascinating analysis. A great read.' Julia Hartley-Brewer, TalkRADIO TV Breakfast Show An innovative and compelling examination of the fundamental DNA of humanity - our talent for creation and destruction. ROBIN MORGAN, award-winning journalist & former editor of The Sunday Times Magazine This book considers why statues, and their removal, continue to provoke strong emotions. It also tells us the stories of 21 acts of statue destruction, why they took place, and what they tell us about our view of the past. BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE 'An enjoyable survey of historical antagonism, and a welcome alternative perspective on a flashpoint in the culture wars' Dominic Selwood, TLS

"'Fascinating analysis. A great read.’ Julia Hartley-Brewer, TalkRADIO TV Breakfast Show ""An innovative and compelling examination of the fundamental DNA of humanity - our talent for creation and destruction."" ROBIN MORGAN, award-winning journalist & former editor of The Sunday Times Magazine “This book considers why statues, and their removal, continue to provoke strong emotions. It also tells us the stories of 21 acts of statue destruction, why they took place, and what they tell us about our view of the past.” BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE 'An enjoyable survey of historical antagonism, and a welcome alternative perspective on a flashpoint in the culture wars' Dominic Selwood, TLS  "

Author Information

Dr. Peter Hughes is a philosopher and psychologist with expertise in how individuals succumb to the madness of crowds. He has a PhD in philosophy and is a member of the British Psychological Society. An experienced broadcaster, he has worked with extremes of human behaviour and his combination of academic expertise and real-world experience give him a unique perspective on the statue wars. DR. PETER HUGHES is a philosopher and a member of the British Psychological Society. An expert in extremes of human behavior, he has featured on the BBC, ABC Australia and numerous documentaries. He writes for publications including The Huffington Post, The Spectator, Quillette, Perspective Magazine and The New Statesman.

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