The Fall of Republics: A History from Ancient Carthage to the American Constitution (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 2026)

​"In this book, Madden’s dazzling expertise on the city of Venice is masterfully applied to other complex republics throughout human history, culminating in how they shaped—and continue to shape—the American republic. The result is a monumental achievement and a true gem." -- Paul Rahe, Author of Republics: Ancient and Modern

"The Fall of Republics is a work of impressive scope and restraint. Thomas Madden shows that republics rarely die by assassination; they unravel through habit, compromise, and the quiet normalization of excess. The lesson is not that democracy inevitably fails—but that it must be constantly defended.” —Amanda Foreman, New York Times bestselling author of A World on Fire: Britain’s Crucial Role in the American Civil War

Istanbul: City of Majesty at the Crossroads of the World (New York: Penguin/Viking, 2016)

​"A wonderfully vivid and clear account... [Madden is] a skilled narrator, negotiating the twists and turns in the city's destiny."
-- The Economist

"A major 'biography' of a city at the center of the world. Madden documents the history of the place that has been home to Greeks and Ottomans, Muslims and Jews, the ancient world and the society of the future.'"
-- Time

Venice: A New History (New York: Penguin/Viking, 2013)

"Breezy, cheerful, evenhanded, Madden debunks myths about Venetian decadence, and brushes aside ugly whispers about greedy, unscrupulous merchants.  When a colorful character pops up (Marco Polo, Casanova), he makes the most of it in his brisk, no-nonsense prose."  -- The New York Times

"A savory, tantalizing, but not-so-serene history of La Serenissima." -- Publishers Weekly

The Concise History of the Crusades, Third Edition (Lanham: Rowman and Littlefield, 2013)

"In little more than 200 pages, in crystal-clear and economical prose, Madden does a superb job of exposition. As an introduction to the vast literature of the crusades, this is a jewel of a book."
-- ​The Washington Post

Empires of Trust (New York: Penguin/Dutton, 2008)

"Informed by a depth of learning that will impress even the most knowledgeable.... History does not repeat.  But it does teach -- and Thomas Madden here shows himself a marvelous teacher."
-- ​Commentary

Enrico Dandolo and the Rise of Venice (Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003)

"With [this book], Madden more than ever stakes out his place as one of the most important medievalists in America at present."
-- The Medieval Review

Crusades: The Illustrated History (Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 2004)

"A useful introduction to the subject for students and interested readers alike, [and] a fine addition to both public and academic libraries." -- Library Journal

The Crusades: The Essential Readings (Oxford: Blackwell, 2002)

"Madden's thoughtful introduction describes the historiography of crusade studies in an accessible way. He includes modern perspectives, touching on the post-September 11 political and religious context." -- ​The Catholic Historical Review

The Fourth Crusade: The Conquest of Constantinople, Second Edition (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1999) (with Donald E. Queller)

"As a work of scholarship the new edition is a considerable achievement since it has taken a classic and made it even better."
-- Nottingham Medieval Studies