Peter Allen is a British illustrator based in France. He has illustrated books for Bloomsbury, Macmillan, Egmont, Usborne and others. Taking inspiration from folk art, mid-century illustration and postage stamps, Allen's images are packed with observed details, imagination and humour. He is the author of Atlas of Amazing Architecture (2021).

An excavation of ten world civilisations; their rise, their decline and their legacies. What makes a society successful, what allows it to last thousands of years and what causes its eventual downfall? In this volatile world that we live in, there are many fascinating lessons to be learned from the great empires that once ruled it. Rise and Fall brings a collection of ten world civilisations to life. Some, like the Vikings and the Mongols, you may have heard of. Others, like Benin, Kamakura, Minoa or Ayutthaya are less well known today but in their time were seemingly undefeatable. Peter Allen, author of Atlas of Amazing Architecture (Cicada, 2021), illuminates the stories with his trademark detail-and humour-packed illustrations, taking young readers on a captivating journey through time to uncover the essence of human civilisation.