We have long been taught to presume that modern global history began when Christopher Columbus ‘discovered’ America in 1492.  But, turning the traditional narrative on its head, this groundbreaking book looks at the thousands of Aztecs, Maya, Tononacs, Inuit and more who went on to ‘discover’ Europe in the years that followed. From enslaved people and servants to explorers, traders and diplomats, these Indigenous Americans crossed the Atlantic to find lands both exotic and baffling. For them, Europe was the ‘savage shore’. In this fascinating event, Dr Dodds Pennock discusses some of their extraordinary tales – from the Brazilian King presented at the court of Henry VIII and the Aztecs who mocked up human sacrifice at the court of Charles V, to the Inuit who harpooned ducks on the River Avon. 

Dr Caroline Dodds Pennock teaches International History at the University of Sheffield and is the only British historian of the Aztecs. On Savage Shores was a Radio 4 Book of the Week.

Désirée Reynolds is a writer, presenter and DJ and leads the Dig Where You Stand archival project

Books will be on sale at the event. Books can be ordered online from La Biblioteka at the Off the Shelf Bookstore