“The political lives of tyrants play out human affairs with a special intensity: the death of a democratic leader long after his retirement is a private matter, but the death of a tyrant is always a political act that reflects the character of his power.”

British historian, television presenter and author

Simon Jonathan Sebag Montefiore is a British historian, television presenter, and writer of history books and novels. He is known for works that bring large historical subjects to a broad readership. His books include Stalin: The Court of the Red Tsar, Jerusalem: The Biography, The Romanovs: 1613 to 1918, and The World: A Family History of Humanity. His work often ranges across rulers, empires, and the longer sweep of history.