Fallen Idols describes a stomach-turning litany of atrocities, but, perhaps surprisingly, it’s not an angry book. It’s a lively, engaging and often witty exploration of why statues are put up, why they are taken down and what this teaches us about history and memory. It’s extremely well researched. The notes stretch to more than 40 pages and von Tunzelmann credits a team of researchers. If it has an agenda, it’s one that urges us to see the layers, the nuance and the different points of view.

This book starts well and ends well, with bumpy patches in between.

... [a] thoughtful and fast-paced new book.

It’s clear from Fallen Idols that there are many reasons to tear down a statue. Removing Stalin’s statue in Budapest was the start of a revolution. Pulling down Saddam Hussein’s statue was a symbolic end to the Iraq War—a symbol that turned out to be disastrously wrong. Taking down a statue can also be an act of truth telling.

Historian von Tunzelmann (Blood and Sand) takes a brisk and informative look at 'how societies around the world have put up, loved, hated and pulled down statues in order to make statements about themselves'.