We’re back with episode 2 of the Read Smart podcast! In this episode, Prize Executive Director Toby Mundy speaks with author and historian Justin Marozzi, shortlisted for the 2025 Baillie Gifford Prize for Non-Fiction for his book Captives and Companions: A History of Slavery and the Slave Trade in the Islamic World.

Marozzi traces 1,500 years of slavery across three continents, revealing how the institution shaped societies from the medieval caliphates to the modern day. In this conversation, he discusses the challenges of uncovering the voices of the enslaved, the differences between slavery in the Islamic world and the transatlantic slave trade and the enduring legacy of enslavement in the 21st century.

Listen now to hear more about this powerful and eye-opening work.

This podcast is generously supported by the Blavatnik Family Foundation. To keep up with all of our Prize news year-round, follow @BGPrize on Instagram, Facebook, X, TikTok and YouTube.