Jay Elwes

How the third world war was narrowly averted

The terrifyingly close shaves of the Cuban Missile Crisis extended to the very last minute, even as the Russians withdrew their arsenal, Serhii Plokhy reminds us

Weapons inspection: a Soviet vessel loaded with missiles finally returns to Russia in November 1962. The request by an escorting US destroyer to uncover all missiles aboard is refused — but a crew member (foreground) partially reveals one of them. Credit: Getty Images 
issue 08 May 2021

  • Nuclear Folly: A New History of the Cuban Missile Crisis

    Serhii Plokhy

    Allen Lane, pp. 464, £25

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