Throughout history, and all over the world, seemingly intelligent people have made foolish decisions based on delusions. This has affected love affairs, politics, finance, science, warfare, showbusiness and even sport. It has also wrecked marriages, bankrupted millionaires, lost battles, destroyed empires, brought down leaders and royalty, split religions, ruined reputations, changed climates, thwarted gangsters and even exposed sex pests. Donough O'Brien and Liz Cowley shine a spotlight on 150 intriguing, and often hidden, corners of such calamities... And in so doing they highlight over 650 characters who prove to be both fascinating and flawed. Dreams, Delusions & Disasters is an absorbing take on history.

"The authors delve into little known, but really significant, corners of history that highlight human frailty and unpredictability." Christopher Joll - Author and Historian

Husband and wife - DONOUGH O'BRIEN and LIZ COWLEY - have developed into a formidable writing partnership. Their jointly authored books cover a wide range of non-fiction and fiction subjects - from the history of plants to thrillers and a fictional WW2 resistance novel (now translated into Spanish and French). DONOUGH O'BRIEN: After an extensive marketing career in Britain and the USA, during which he visited 51 countries, Donough took to writing - starting with an entertaining personal memoir, graduating to history and then added thrillers to his literary output. All in all he has written and co-authored 12 books. LIZ COWLEY: After many years as an advertising copywriter, Liz's first book of poety was praised by Joanna Lumley as 'witty, poignant and straight from the heart'. A further seven books of amusing 'approachable poetry' followed. One earned her The Lady magazine's accolade as 'Britain's finest gardening poet'.