Why, one might ask, is the sexuality of Joan of Arc silenced? How did the last Tsar truly die? Are all Jews Semites? Are the omissions of History not equally a part of History?

A taboo could be defined as anything we dare not articulate under certain circumstances. History contains a large number of omissions that are not a result of prohibitions or forgetfulness. The detection of taboos allows us to understand the unspeakable within various societies, through the way their history is presented.

Religious and political taboos avoid questions that could shake our established beliefs. Insightful, sharp-witted, and provocative, Marc Ferro invites us to explore some of the most persistent taboos, to analyze them and understand the stakes they conceal, prompting us to rethink what we believe we know.