Homo Criminalis by Mark Galeotti - ISBN: 9781529148244
Paperback
Crime reveals society’s evolution, driving progress from ancient banditry to modern underworlds.
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Homo Criminalis

How crime organises the world

$24.12

  • Paperback

    320 pages

  • Release Date

    24 November 2026

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Summary

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 a…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9781529148244
ISBN-10:1529148243
Author:Mark Galeotti
Publisher:Ebury Publishing
Imprint:Ebury Press
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:320
Release Date:24 November 2026
Weight:240g
Dimensions:197mm x 128mm x 21mm
What They're Saying

Critics Review

One of the most astute political commentators on Putin and modern Russia * Financial Times *
In Homo Criminalis, Mark Galeotti does not shy away from asking the big questions—is every state founded on a crime? Are robbers with of a code of honour a mafia or a kingdom? Why crime flourishes at times of social upheavals? His answers take us on a tour-de-force across the centuries and the continents in a book replete with poignant examples and written in his distinctive style, accessible yet precise. A must read. – Frederico Varese, author of ‘Russia in Four Criminals’
From medieval bandits to modern mafias, Homo Criminalis takes us on a fast-paced journey through the underworlds that have shaped our upperworld. Combining captivating storytelling with incisive analysis, Galeotti’s sweeping global history makes a compelling case that to truly understand how the world works we must understand the criminals who’ve helped create it. – Peter Andreas, author of ‘The Illicit Global Economy: What Everyone Needs to Know’
In the study of organised crime we often don’t look enough at history and in the study of history we don’t look enough at organised crime. There is no one better than Galeotti to bridge the divide as he does in Homo Criminalis. His prescient and often witty narrative keeps you reading, and even if you are buried deep in the debate, there are new insights on every page. – Mark Shaw, Director of the Global Institute Against Transnational Organized Crime
Glittering… the author’s obvious enthusiasm for the subject is matched by impressive erudition. * Spectator *
The readable, scary, fun beach read of new crime literature * Financial Times *

About The Author

Mark Galeotti

Mark Galeotti is a leading expert on Russian crime and security. After working with the Foreign Office, he pursued an academic and think-tank career in London, New York, Moscow, Prague, and Florence. He currently leads the consultancy Mayak Intelligence and holds honorary professorships at University College London and senior fellowships with RUSI and the Council on Geostrategy. Galeotti is a prolific author and frequently consults for government, commercial, and law enforcement agencies, having briefed numerous high-profile individuals.

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