As one of the earliest truly global pharmaceutical companies Roche's history is inextricably interwoven with the local political and societal processes it encountered in the respective countries. So far, the systematic historical research of all important markets is unique in the field of business history. By making use of encyclopedic slide-ins, the publication makes the scientific development of Roche and the context between acting subjects and events transparent. The texts are richly illustrated with archival material which fosters an entertaining lecture also by section. This is supported by the lively writing style which makes the crises and successes of the company tangible. The members of the group of authors have been chosen on the grounds of their expertise in the history of the respective regions and were granted unhindered access to the company's archives.