The iconic bestseller Prisoners of Geography, now fully updated with brand new content to reflect the changing global geopolitical landscape since it was first published in 2015

Prisoners of Geography looks at the past, present and future to offer crucial insights into one of the major factors that determines world history – because if you don’t know geography, you’ll never have the full picture.

Originally published in 2015, this completely revised and updated edition brings it up to date with the events and trends of the past decade, with new material including: the Russia–Ukraine conflict and Moscow's alliances with authoritarian states; the Israel/Gaza war; China’s growing military and strategic power, and its stance on Taiwan; American global power and pivot to the Pacific; Europe’s leaning towards more extreme politics, increased defence spending, and the new ‘Iron Curtain’; Japan's remilitarisation and increasing power; great power play in Africa; and the growth of Indian economic and military power.

Prisoners of Geography is an essential primer on geopolitics, helping readers all around the globe understand what’s happening in our fast-changing world.

‘Quite simply, one of the best books about geopolitics you could imagine.’ Nicholas Lezard, Evening Standard, on Prisoners of Geography

’Sharp insights into the way geography shapes the choices of world leaders.’ Gideon Rachman, Financial Times

‘Marshall is not afraid to ask tough questions and provide sharp answers.’ Newsweek

Details

ISBN13: 9781783968596
Format: Paperback / softback
Number of Pages: 352
Edition: The 10-year anniversary edition of the runaway bestseller
Publication Date: 16 Jul 2025
Publisher: Elliott & Thompson Limited
Publication City, Country: London, United Kingdom
Dimensions (cm): 19.8(H)x12.9(L)
Weight (gm):

Author Biography

Tim Marshall is a leading authority on foreign affairs with more than thirty years of reporting experience. He was diplomatic editor at Sky News and before that worked for the BBC and LBC/IRN radio. He has reported from forty countries and covered conflicts in Croatia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, and Israel. He is the author of Prisoners of Geography, The Age of Walls, A Flag Worth Dying For, The Power of Geography, and The Future of Geography.

Reviews

‘Quite simply, one of the best books about geopolitics you could imagine.’ Nicholas Lezard, Evening Standard, on Prisoners of Geography

 

‘Sharp insights into the way geography shapes the choices of world leaders.’ Gideon Rachman, Financial Times

 

‘Marshall is not afraid to ask tough questions and provide sharp answers.’ Newsweek

‘Prisoners of Geography is endlessly informative, and often eye-opening.’ LoveReading