Nuclear Folly
A New History of the Cuban Missile Crisis
(Autor) Serhii PlokhyShortlisted for the Duke of Wellington Medal for Military History 'An enthralling account of a pivotal moment in modern history. . . replete with startling revelations about the deception and mutual suspicion that brought the US and Soviet Union to the brink of Armageddon in October 1962' Martin Chilton, Independent The definitive new history of the Cuban Missile Crisis from the author of Chernobyl: History of a Tragedy, winner of the Baillie Gifford Prize For more than four weeks in the autumn of 1962 the world teetered. The consequences of a misplaced step during the Cuban Missile Crisis could not have been more grave. Ash and cinder, famine and fallout; nuclear war between the two most-powerful nations on Earth. In Nuclear Folly, award-winning historian Serhii Plokhy tells the riveting story of those weeks, tracing the tortuous decision-making and calculated brinkmanship of John F. Kennedy, Nikita Khrushchev and Fidel Castro, and of their advisors and commanders on the ground. More often than not, Plokhy argues, the Americans and Soviets simply misread each other, operating under mutual distrust, second-guesses and false information. Despite all of this, nuclear disaster was avoided thanks to one very human reason: fear. Drawing on an impressive array of primary sources, including recently declassified KGB files, Plokhy masterfully illustrates the drama of those tense days. Authoritative, fast-paced and unforgettable, this is the definitive new account of the Cold War's most perilous moment.
Serhii Plokhy
Serhii Plokhy is a renowned Ukrainian-American historian and author known for his works on Eastern European history, particularly the history of Ukraine and Russia. He is a professor of Ukrainian history at Harvard University and has published numerous books on the topic.
Plokhy's most notable works include "The Last Empire: The Final Days of the Soviet Union" and "Chernobyl: The History of a Nuclear Catastrophe." His writing style is characterized by meticulous research, insightful analysis, and engaging storytelling.
Plokhy's contributions to literature include shedding light on important but often overlooked events in Eastern European history and providing new perspectives on key moments in the region's past. His work has had a significant impact on the study of Ukrainian and Russian history, influencing scholars and readers alike.
His most famous work, "Chernobyl: The History of a Nuclear Catastrophe," explores the causes and consequences of the Chernobyl disaster in 1986, offering a comprehensive and compelling account of one of the worst nuclear accidents in history.
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