{"product_id":"9780349128597","title":"Engineers of Human Souls : Four Writers Who Changed Twentieth-Century Minds by Simon Ings","description":"Four writers. Four dictators. One world, changed out of all recognition. ENGINEERS OF HUMAN SOULS is an intimate and shocking shadow history of creative vanity in a time that turned writers - once the faithful servants of authority - into figures of political consequence.\u003cp\u003eMaurice Barrès, who first wielded the politics of identity. Gabriele D'Annunzio, whose poetry became a blueprint for fascism. Maxim Gorky, dramatist of the working class and Stalin's cheerleader. The Maoist Ding Ling, whose stories exculpated the regime that kept her imprisoned.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAll four nursed extravagant visions of the future, and believed they were vital to its realisation. Each was lured to the centre of political action. Each established a dangerous and damaging relationship with a notorious dictator. And when writers and rulers find a use for each other, the consequences can be shattering for us all. These stories - of courage and compromise, vanity and malevolence - speak urgently to the uncontrollable power of words.\u003c\/p\u003e,\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Binding: Paperback,\u003cbr\u003ePagination: 368 pages","brand":"Little, Brown Book Group","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45953100611811,"sku":"9780349128597","price":12.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1701\/6275\/files\/9780349128597.jpg?v=1738056175","url":"https:\/\/www.harbourbookshop.co.uk\/products\/9780349128597","provider":"The Harbour Bookshop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}