The Knife at the Neck of Empires

<p>History is built not only by the battles that succeeded-but by the assassins who failed.</p><p>From the jungles of Borneo to the marble courts of Constantinople The Knife at the Neck of Empires takes readers on a cinematic journey through the world's strangest most little-known assassination attempts. Each chapter unearths a true meticulously researched episode where a single dagger bullet or poisoned cup could have changed everything-if only fate had tilted a little differently.</p><p>Discover the Sultan nearly undone by a poisoned banquet in the tropics; a stonemason scaling the midnight walls of Kabul; a hidden cannon on the Ganges that roared before the British conquest of India; and a vial of perfumed death meant for an Ottoman sultan.</p><p>Blending vivid storytelling with historical rigor Matt Nichols brings to life the forgotten plots fractured loyalties and sheer chaos that shaped empires-and reminds us how fragile history truly is.</p><p>Perfect for fans of Erik Larson Simon Winchester and The Assassin's Cloak this book reveals the moments when history came within inches of rewriting itself.</p>