David Olusoga Books In Order

Publication Order of Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Anthologies

About David Olusoga

David Olusoga has long been celebrated for his unique and comprehensive perspective on history. A British-Nigerian author, historian, BAFTA award winning film-maker, and presenter, he has sought to make history more accessible to the public through a variety of mediums.

He has written in The Observer, The New Statesman, The Guardian, BBC History Magazine, and The Voice, and has been the Creative Director of Uplands Television Limited since 2018. Additionally, he is a Public History professor at the University of Manchester and a Fellow of both the Royal Society of Literature and the Royal Historical Society.

The long-running history series through the BBC titled ‘A House Through Time,’ and the award-winning ‘Black & British,’ ‘The World’s War,’ and ‘The Unwanted: The Secret Windrush Files’ are all a testament to David Olusoga’s dedication to informing viewers on history in a clear, articulate, and accessible manner. As a presenter on the landmark BBC arts series ‘Civilizations,’ featuring alongside Mary Beard and Simon Schama, Olusoga brought history to life.

David Olusoga has a unique ability to make history accessible to the general reader, drawing in readers and viewers alike with his captivating and well-structured writing style. His narrative approach to history has allowed readers to gain a deeper understanding of the past, while also developing a personal connection with the stories he tells.

In his writing, Olusoga is able to bring the past to life in vivid detail, allowing readers to better comprehend the historical context in a way that traditional history books may not have achieved. His vivid descriptions, engaging storytelling, and creative use of sources make his writing a must-read for anyone looking to gain a better understanding of world history and events.

Early and Personal Life

British historian and writer David Olusoga has had a remarkable life, developing a great deal over the years. Born in Lagos, Nigeria, to a Nigerian father and British mother in January 1970, Olusoga moved to the UK with his mother at the age of five. As one of the few non-white people who was living on a council estate in Tyne and Wear, he and his family reportedly faced racism and even attacks from the National Front, which eventually resulted in them leaving.

Though his early years were difficult, Olusoga was determined to excel in life. He attended the University of Liverpool to study the history of slavery and graduated in 1994 with a BA (Hons) History degree. He further honed his craft by completing a postgraduate course based in broadcast journalism at Leeds Trinity University.

Today, Olusoga is a respected historian and writer, having written several books and presented various television programmes. His work has brought attention to issues of racism and colonialism in Britain, and he continues to use his platform to help create a better, more inclusive society.

Writing Career

In 1999, David Olusoga started his television career as a researcher on the BBC series Western Front. After university, he developed into a producer of history programmes, including Namibia: Genocide and the Second Reich, Abraham Lincoln: Saint or Sinner? And The Lost Pictures of Eugene Smith. In 2014, Olusoga began hosting with The World’s War: Forgotten Soldiers of Empire, a program about Indian, African and Asian troops in the First World War. He later presented Civilisations, a sequel to Kenneth Clark’s 1969 television documentary series Civilisation.

Olusoga wrote several books, including Black and British: A Forgotten History, winning both the PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize, and the Longman–History Today Trustees Award in 2017. Other titles included The World’s War, The Kaiser’s Holocaust, and Civilisations. He would contribute to the Oxford Companion to Black British History, along with writing for The Guardian, The Observer, New Statesman and BBC History magazine. In 2019, he was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to history and community integration.

The University of Manchester also named him professor in 2019, lauding him as an expert on military history, empire, race and slavery.

In response to the global Black Lives Matter movement, Olusoga’s ‘Britain’s Forgotten Slave Owners’ and ‘Black and British’ were re-broadcast. In 2021, he featured on BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs and Barack Obama Talks To David Olusoga, a special BBC programme. In December 2021, Olusoga was awarded the President’s Medal, by the British Academy, recognizing his services to the humanities and social sciences.

Black and British

In 2016, the renowned historian David Olusoga published his groundbreaking non-fiction work ‘Black and British: A Forgotten History’ through the publisher Pan Macmillan. It has since been recognized with several prestigious awards, including a nomination for the Orwell Prize in 2017, the Hessell-Tiltman Prize in the same year and the Jhalak Prize shortlist in 2017. This acclaimed book has become an essential part of the historical canon, giving readers a more thorough understanding of Britain’s past.

David Olusoga’s Black and British is an engaging and insightful look into the long-standing relationship between the British Isles and Africa. Through extensive research and interviews, Olusoga takes readers on a journey through history, beginning with Roman Britain and the medieval imagination, to the South Sea Bubble and the industrial boom of the nineteenth century. He also reveals how Black Britons contributed to the nation, with evidence of their involvement in the Battle of Trafalgar and World War One. Finally, Olusoga offers readers a look at how Black British history is still present in Britain today, from statues and street names to stately homes.

The World’s War

In 2014, ‘The World’s War’ was published by Head of Zeus. This stand-alone non-fiction title had a huge impact and was recognized for its excellence the following year when it won the Paddy Power Political Book Award for World War One Book of the Year. The award-winning title has since become a timeless masterpiece, still widely read and celebrated to this day.

The World’s War tells the remarkable story of the countless non-white and multi-ethnic soldiers who served during the First World War. Their bravery and sacrifices were often forgotten or overlooked by later historians, and this book brings their stories to life. Drawing on extensive diary entries and eye-witness accounts, it provides a vivid and unique account of the many millions of colonial troops who would fight in the war. From the First Battle of Ypres to the Second Battle of the Marne, the multi-racial Allied armies made up a significant portion of the war effort.

With THE WORLD’S WAR, these men and women are given long-overdue recognition for their service and sacrifices. It is an essential read for anyone interested in the full story of the First World War.