“What on Earth Happened?” was an idea that came to me while I was washing up at a campsite near Rome in the summer of 2006.

 

Imagine the whole history of the Earth—planet, life and people—all in one easy-to-read narrative volume! This wouldn’t be simply a history book, but a story that was as much about science, biology, geography, religion, art, politics and economics— all tied together in a chronological framework that put into context how we humans got to the

here and how and to what effect. I conceived the project as a mine of historical information, human interest and environmental history told in an accessible, narrative style that could help explain why things are as they are—everything from where the mountains came from to the origins of modern terrorism...

 

After writing some sample material, I was fortunate enough to secure the help of highly experienced literary agent Andrew Lownie. His efforts resulted in a publishing contract with Bloomsbury in March 2007. A first draft of the manuscript was completed by October. The finished book, complete with more than 200 photographs and 50 maps and illustrations was published in the UK on October 6th 2008, in the U.S. on October 14th, 2008 and also in Germany. Numerous translations are in the process of being published (click here for details).

 

See Christopher Lloyd’s full curriculum vitae.

 

 

What on Earth Happened?, launched in October 2008, has since sold more than 20,000 copies in the UK and was serialised in The Independent newspaper under the title

The World, A Pocket History over 14 days between Saturday 7th to Friday 20th February 2009.

 

Meanwhile, an abridged paperback edition called

 What on Earth Happened in Brief will be launched in the UK on June 1st, priced at £7.99 

 

A second book in the What on Earth series called

 What on Earth Evolved? 100 Species that Changed the World is currently in the process of production and will be published in the UK and USA in October 2009.

 

 

 

 

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