60 years ago, the Cuban Missile Crisis was deepening. Following the discovery of Soviet nuclear warheads in Cuba there was a 13-day stand-off, and the world was bracing itself for war between the Soviet Union and the United States.
Going against advice from his generals, US President Jack Kennedy did a secret deal with Soviet leader Nikita Kruschev. American nuclear weapons were removed from Turkey and in exchange Russian missiles left Cuba.
The historian Sir Max Hastings says the Cuban Missile Crisis has frightening lessons for the world now. In his book Abyss, he draws on everything that was said in the White House at the time, and on extensive material as well from Russian officers, Cuban peasants, American pilots, and a whole host of accounts from the people in the middle of that very tense fortnight.
Photo: HarperCollins
