Professor Stephen Hawking is generally considered to have been one of the world''s greatest thinkers. Here, his phenomenal bestseller A Brief History of Time is illustrated to bring his theories to life in a clear, captivating and visually engaging way.

''This book marries a child''s wonder to a genius''s intellect. We journey into Hawking''s universe, while marvelling at his mind'' - The Sunday Times
''Stephen Hawking can explain the complexities of cosmological physics with an engaging combination of clarity and wit...'' - Observer
''Exceptional writing explaining the mysteries and beauty of our universe. The book is very fascinating and highly enjoyable. Highly recommended'' - ***** Reader review
''This book is mind blowing'' - ***** Reader review
''A masterpiece'' - ***** Reader review
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Was there a beginning of time? Could time run backwards? Is the universe infinite or does it have boundaries?

These are just some of the questions considered in the internationally acclaimed masterpiece by the world-renowned physicist Professor Stephen Hawking.

It begins by reviewing the great theories of the cosmos from Newton to Einstein, before delving into the secrets which still lie at the heart of space and time, from the Big Bang to black holes, via spiral galaxies and strong theory. To this day A Brief History of Time remains a staple of the scientific canon, and its succinct and clear language continues to introduce millions to the universe and its wonders.

In this edition, Professor Hawking explains his complex theories through a fresh visual dimension. Over 150 stunning colour illustrations have been specially commissioned for this purpose to help the reader understand what have become popular mythic images of our century, but which nonetheless remain difficult, abstract ideas to grasp.

This stunning gift edition also includes a new appendix with updates to the text and tributes to Stephen Hawking.