Nuclear Folly

Viac o knihe

*Shortlisted for the Duke of Wellington Medal for Military History* This enthralling account of a pivotal moment in modern history reveals startling insights into the deception and mutual suspicion that brought the US and Soviet Union to the brink of Armageddon in October 1962. The definitive new history of the Cuban Missile Crisis, authored by the winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize, captures the world’s precarious balance during those four weeks in autumn 1962. The stakes were dire, with the potential for nuclear war between the two most powerful nations looming large. Award-winning historian Serhii Plokhy narrates the gripping story of the crisis, detailing the complex decision-making and brinkmanship of John F. Kennedy, Nikita Khrushchev, and Fidel Castro, along with their advisors and commanders. Plokhy argues that miscommunication and mutual distrust often clouded their judgments, leading to second-guesses and false information. Ultimately, nuclear disaster was averted due to a very human factor: fear. Drawing on a wealth of primary sources, including recently declassified KGB files, Plokhy vividly illustrates the drama of those tense days. Authoritative, fast-paced, and unforgettable, this work stands as the definitive account of the Cold War's most perilous moment.