Most Popular Books by Michael Dobbs

The #1 bestselling novel that inspired the hit Netflix series A dark tale of greed, corruption, and unquenchable ambition, House of Cards reveals that no matter the country, politics, intrigue and passion reign in the corridors of power. Francis Urquhart has his hand on every secret in politics—and is willing to betray them all to become prime minister. Mattie Storin is a tenacious young reporter who has a knack for finding the real stories hidden behind the spin. When she stumbles upon a scandalous web of intrigue and financial corruption at the very highest levels, she vows to reveal the truth. But to do so she must battle her own demons and risk everything, even her life. House of Cards is a classic political thriller reinvented for a new generation. "This blood and thunder tale, lifelike and thoroughly cynical, certainly carries the ring of authenticity....a great triumph." — The Independent

In October 1962, at the height of the Cold War, the United States and the Soviet Union came to the brink of nuclear conflict over the placement of Soviet missiles in Cuba. In this hour-by-hour chronicle of those tense days, veteran Washington Post reporter Michael Dobbs reveals just how close we came to Armageddon. Here, for the first time, are gripping accounts of Khrushchev''s plan to destroy the U.S. naval base at Guantánamo; the handling of Soviet nuclear warheads on Cuba; and the extraordinary story of a U-2 spy plane that got lost over Russia at the peak of the crisis. Written like a thriller, One Minute to Midnight is an exhaustively researched account of what Arthur Schlesinger, Jr. called “the most dangerous moment in human history,” and the definitive book on the Cuban missile crisis.

In the Swiss Alps a teenage girl is thrown from a helicopter and her boyfriend is brutally abducted to Trieste, a city filled with undercurrents of past hatreds. Ruari, son of Irish media owner J J Breslin, is in desperate danger, at the mercy of ruthless kidnappers making impossible demands. His terrified mother contacts the only person she knows can help her son: Harry Jones, her former lover, who she walked out on many years ago. Now memories of their passionate affair, the guilt, hurt, anger and humiliation, come flooding back. Time is running out for Ruari and Harry, torn between his loyalties, is quickly drawn into a political game played for high stakes. Far higher than he realizes...

When Harry Jones discovers that former friend Zac Kravitz''s life is in danger, a debt of honour sends him on a perilous rescue mission to Kargistan, a mountainous and landlocked former Soviet republic bordering Russia, China and Afghanistan. Muscling his way onto a delegation of MPs who happen to be paying the state a visit, Harry finds an unlikely ally in the stubbornly independent Martha and together they devise a plan to break Zac out of the grim prison Bodima. But when the attempt backfires and he finds himself stuck in prison in Zac''s place, little by little Harry realises that all is not as it seemed and that he has been lured into a web of international conspiracy.

''Tell me about your father.'' Five short, razor-edged words that rip the world of Harry Jones to pieces. He barely knew his father Johnnie and hated what little he did know, yet no man is able to escape the shadows of the past. Harry has already lost almost everything - his seat in parliament, his reputation, his fortune. There is little left apart from his love for the headstrong Jemma, and now he must risk losing her and even his own life to uncover the truth about his dead father. What starts as a gentle enquiry uncovers a trail of murder and guilt-ridden love that dates back to Johnnie''s student days. Harry''s search leads from a burning house in Bermuda to a graveyard in Greece, from the croquet lawns of his father''s Oxford college to the altar of one of Wren''s finest London churches. At every turn Harry discovers that the childhood world he thought he knew, was false, along with almost everyone in it. Only when he confronts his own death does he realize that all along he''s been used as a pawn in a far larger game.

The final book in the Internationally Bestselling trilogy that inspired the hit Netflix series House of Cards. Months from taking his place as the longest-serving Prime Minister this century, Francis Urquhart''s country is tiring of him. But he''s not about to be driven from office. If the public demands new blood, that is precisely what he will give them... This is a different Francis Urquhart – more vulnerable, more loving, and more ruthless than ever. He will risk everything, but one thing is certain: whatever the outcome of this, his greatest gamble, the name of Francis Urquhart will never be forgotten. Finishing the dark tale of greed, corruption, and unquenchable ambition, The Final Cut reveals that no matter the country, politics, intrigue and passion reign in the corridors of power. An explosive political thriller, fans of Vince Flynn, David Baldacci and Robert Ludlum will enjoy this stunning conclusion to Dobb''s trilogy. As a former advisor to Margaret Thatcher, Conservative Party Chief of Staff, and now peer of the realm and Conservative member of the House of Lords, Baron Michael Dobbs provides an insider look at the twists and turns of British politics. Other books in the House of Cards series: House of Cards, Book 1 – The dark, twisting schemes of a politician determined to succeed To Play The King, Book 2 – Newly elected Prime Minister plots to take on the Monarchy to grab even more power The Final Cut, Book 3 – The perfect finale to this twisted trilogy, Urquhart refuses to close his career quietly What readers are saying about House of Cards: "If you enjoy political intrigue, murder, and a truly loathsome character you will greatly enjoy this final installment by Dobbs." "Great book highly recommend if you are currently viewing House of Cards." "Francis Urquhart is on a par with RIchard III as a baddie of literature. And yet Dobbs has us cheering from him at every turn." "Dobbs ties off the House of Cards series with a bang and pens, perhaps, his best novel of the trilogy." "Francis Urquhart at his finest, the ultimate chess game against the world." "the sharpest, smartest, and most intelligent writing I have read." "A superb ending to the series!" What reviewers are saying about House of Cards: "A triumphant return...the best book of the three. The action is unflagging, the characterization razor-sharp, the satirical barbs at politics and politicians unfailingly accurate. What a brilliant creation F.U. is." —Sunday Telegraph "Razor-sharp and merciless...One thing is certain: F.U. will be remembered for much longer than many a real Prime Minister." - Daily Mail "Thoroughly entertaining. Urquhart is a joy, and the wonderful games he plays have lost none of their attraction." - The Times What everyone is saying about the House of Cards books: "This blood and thunder tale, lifelike and thoroughly cynical, certainly carries the ring of authenticity....a great triumph." — The Independent "...a political thriller writer with a marvellous inside track knowledge of government." - Daily Express "If you are a fan of the modern TV series than you should definitely pick up these books." "Michael Dobbs has an uncanny knack of forecasting the future. A fascinating read and a conclusion that would send a chill through Buckingham Palace." - Sunday Express

In 1942, Hitler''s Nazi regime trained eight operatives for a mission to infiltrate America and do devastating damage to its infrastructure. It was a plot that proved historically remarkable for two reasons: the surprising extent of its success and the astounding nature of its failure. Soon after two U-Boats packed with explosives arrived on America''s shores–one on Long Island, one in Florida–it became clear that the incompetence of the eight saboteurs was matched only by that of American authorities. In fact, had one of the saboteurs not tipped them off, the FBI might never have caught the plot''s perpetrators–though a dozen witnesses saw a submarine moored on Long Island. As told by Michael Dobbs, the story of the botched mission and a subsequent trial by military tribunal, resulting in the swift execution of six saboteurs, offers great insight into the tenor of the country--and the state of American intelligence--during World War II and becomes what is perhaps a cautionary tale for our times.

The second book in the trilogy that inspired the hit Netflix series House of Cards After scheming his way to power in House of Cards, newly elected Prime Minister Francis Urquhart takes on the new King, The role of the monarchy in modern Britain comes under scrutiny as Prime Minister Francis Urquhart threatens to expose Royal secrets when his plans are blocked by the idealistic new King. Their differences of opinion quickly degenerate into open hostility. The battlefield ranges from architecture to the underprivileged; the battle is fought with rigged opinion polls, manipulated newspaper headlines, sexual scandal and economic brinkmanship as Urquhart sets out to destroy not only the King''s family and friends but even the King himself. Continuing the dark tale of greed, corruption, and unquenchable ambition, To Play the King reveals that no matter the country, politics, intrigue and passion reign in the corridors of power. This blood and thunder tale, lifelike and thoroughly cynical, certainly carries the ring of authenticity ... a great triumph. The Independent.

Selected by the Queen Consort for the Queen’s Reading Room The State Opening of Parliament. The most magnificent royal occasion of the year. The Queen, her Cabinet and all the most powerful people in the land are gathering in one room, the House of Lords. And none of them know they are about to endure the most terrifying day of their lives. Not all of them will survive. Sitting amongst the hostages are two young men, the sons of the British Prime Minister and the US President. It creates the cruellest challenge any leader could face. As the world watches on live television and holds its breath, President and Prime Minister are torn in two between their duty as statesmen, and their love as parents. Yet others have their agendas, too, not least of them Harry Jones, a man who is already undergoing the worst day of his life when he becomes swept up in the maelstrom. What can he do about this act of terrorism when the most powerful people are rendered helpless? He can ask one simple question - why?

In the final weeks of the Second World War, a German POW holds the secret that will decide the fate of post-war Europe in this compelling novel by the author of House of Cards. Peter Hencke avoids British capture and heads for Berlin, but his trump card could spell the end of the Third Reich.

A missile tears a passenger plane from the skies over London. Everyone on board is killed, including thirty-seven special children. As terror turns to international chaos, can the government survive...? Who would have killed them? And why? When Harry Jones starts searching for answers, he stumbles into the middle of a plot that stretches from Russia to the Islamic revolution in Egypt, from the shores of the Caspian Sea to an ancient church in rural Wiltshire. Yet every lead he pursues finds its way back to the secret corners of Brussels and a British woman named Patricia Vaine. She and Harry are doomed to fight their battle to the death. Their own lives, and the future of an entire continent, are at stake in what develops into the greatest political power game since the end of the Second World War. For this is a plot not just to take over one country but the whole of Europe. And in this deadly game, the victors will claim total victory - unless Harry Jones can stop them...

Cyber-warfare: the kind that brings nations to their knees, switching off energy lifelines, crippling the financial markets, starving leaders of authority. An old Russian nuclear reactor goes into Chernobyl-style meltdown while, on the other side of the world, the US Eastern Seaboard is plunged into darkness. No one knows - yet - who is responsible for the chaos. Hidden from view of the rest of the world, an extraordinary meeting of the US President, the Russian President and the British Prime Minister is about to take place. They have the weekend to save the world - and they must do it alone. Something serious is going on in Beijing. Military manoeuvres. Troops on the streets. It''s as though the Chinese are preparing for the final thrust against their old enemies, bringing them to their knees in a war that will see not a single shot being fired.

Wayward backbencher Tom Goodfellowe makes his third appearance in the new novel of treachery at the highest levels from the bestselling author of House of Cards.

Thriller set in the sordid world of illegal adoption.

From Michael Dobbs, author of the book that inspired the smash hit Netflix series House of Cards, Churchill''s Triumph transports us to the end of WWII as the three most powerful men on earth—Winston Churchill, Franklin D. Roosevelt, and Joseph Stalin—gather in what will later become known as the Yalta Conference to discuss the possibility of worldwide peace. Despite their shared goals, these supposed allies will lie, cheat, and deceive each other in order to secure their respective places in history. Dobbs takes you behind the scenes and brings you into the minds and hearts of the big three leaders: the dominating and seemingly all-powerful Joseph Stalin, with the largest army, and the mission of expanding the Soviet Empire; an ailing and fragile Roosevelt, willing to make whatever compromises he felt he had to in order to bring Stalin and Russia into the final campaign against Japan; and Churchill, the least powerful of the three, but the most far-sighted, who could not count on Roosevelt as his ally, and could not tame the avaricious Russian bear, determined to gobble up the nations around and beyond it. Like a fly on the wall of history, the reader becomes a hidden witness to these monumental negotiations, witnessing negotiations that would betray the heroic struggle of millions who died and fought in the Great War. Acclaimed author Michael Dobbs allows the reader to eavesdrop on the world''s most powerful men at a crucial point in modern history. Praise for Churchill''s Triumph by Michael Dobbs, bestselling author of House of Cards, the book that inspired the Netflix series: "His portrait of Churchill is as masterly as ever: a wonderful compound of bluster, sentimentality, grumpiness and indefatigable physical energy. There are the usual elegant metaphors... In the tragedy of Poland burning while statesmen fiddled, Dobbs has found a theme worthy of his powers."—Sunday Telegraph "How do you delight the profit-maximising big retailers while at the same time writing something dark and moving? Michael Dobbs knows how...Dobbs knows his sources, but the dialogue is his own: good, clean, moving briskly and underpinned by the record, it conveys historical truth. As for Poland, it suffered all the horrors. Dobbs writes about the country with tight passion, transferring to his fictional village, Piorun, the rape, murder and savage enforcement by Germans and Russians which, so far away and so little regarded, actually happened. The old women weeping, the houses burned down, the bodies left promiscuously on the street are history set out for the attention of novel-readers, memorable instruction in human grief... Furiously told and compelling, Churchill''s Triumph is a thinking man''s bestseller."—The Guardian "Dobbs astutely and dramatically portrays the real story of Yalta, the mighty tussle between the three men upon whose political skills and strength of character the rest of the world would depend... The novel is a triumph because of the author''s fine appreciation of history and his meticulous eye for detail."—The Times "Michael Dobbs brings the Second World War to a resounding close... Dobbs portrays Churchill as being all too human - oversensitive and easily hurt by friendship betrayed, and conjures up Roosevelt''s stricken response beautifully... Dobbs is a fine writer and neatly sums up the appeal of historical novels. Not only can they fill in the gaps left by an inaccurate, incomplete or contradictory factual record, but they can capture the spirit of the thing. Dobbs has certainly done that here."—Daily Telegraph "It''s all too easy to forget that you''re not reading an insider''s account of ht real events that shaped the modern world. Dobbs clearly has an instinctive feel for what makes powerful men tick."—The Mail on Sunday

Published in association with the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, a riveting story of Jewish families seeking to escape Nazi Germany. In 1938, on the eve of World War II, the American journalist Dorothy Thompson wrote that "a piece of paper with a stamp on it" was "the difference between life and death." The Unwanted is the intimate account of a small village on the edge of the Black Forest whose Jewish families desperately pursued American visas to flee the Nazis. Battling formidable bureaucratic obstacles, some make it to the United States while others are unable to obtain the necessary documents. Some are murdered in Auschwitz, their applications for American visas still "pending." Drawing on previously unpublished letters, diaries, interviews, and visa records, Michael Dobbs provides an illuminating account of America''s response to the refugee crisis of the 1930s and 1940s. He describes the deportation of German Jews to France in October 1940, along with their continuing quest for American visas. And he re-creates the heated debates among U.S. officials over whether or not to admit refugees amid growing concerns about "fifth columnists," at a time when the American public was deeply isolationist, xenophobic, and antisemitic. A Holocaust story that is both German and American, The Unwanted vividly captures the experiences of a small community struggling to survive amid tumultuous world events.

Backbench MP Tom Goodfellowe is caught up in the search for the new Dalai Lama in this highly original and compelling thriller from the author of GOODFELLOWE MP and HOUSE OF CARDS – now reissued in new cover style.

From Michael Dobbs, author of the book that inspired the smash hit Netflix series House of Cards, Churchill''s Hour is a stunning novel that brings Prime Minister Winston Churchill to life during the midst of WWII. It is 1941, a year of desperation for England as it is battered by the war. Churchill has only one hope, that the U.S. will come to his country''s aid, but Roosevelt is unwilling to do so because America is wedded to isolationism. The political difficulties Churchill faces are compounded by a very personal dilemma. Pamela, the wife of his dissolute son, Randolph, has fallen in love with FDR''s special envoy to England, Averill Harriman. With England threatened by a German invasion and a desperate Russia devastated by the advancing Nazi onslaught, Churchill must convince America that his cause is theirs. The secret of how he does so is so damning he will take the knowledge to his grave. Following his acclaimed Churchill novels Never Surrender and Churchill''s Triumph, Dobbs'' powerful reimagining makes England''s feisty prime minister jump off the page. Includes bonus reading group guide. Praise for Michael Dobbs, bestselling author of House of Cards, the book that inspired the Netflix series: "Churchill as nature intended: Dobbs captures his famous subject with artistry. With every stroke of his brush, he etches the character deeper into the memory. It is beautifully done."—Sunday Telegraph "Riveting and controversial... Dobbs has the gift of taking you inside his subject''s head."—Glasgow Evening Times "Michael Dobbs has always had an uncanny feel for current affairs... This is a typically masterful page-turner."—Hampstead and Highgate Express "Intriguing political drama from a master of the genre."—Irish Independent "An insightful look back in time - Four Stars."—Sunday Express

From the No 1 bestselling author of HOUSE OF CARDS, a new-cover reprint of a highly acclaimed thriller of international intrigue that brilliantly captures the tense atmosphere of Berlin -- just before the wall came down.

She was born Maria Jana Korbelova in Prague just before the outbreak of World War II, the first child of Czech Jewish parents. Almost sixty years later Madeleine Korbel Albright was sworn in as the United States secretary of state, the first woman to hold the position. Her dramatic life and rise to power are the focus of this meticulously documented biography, which expands on the ground-breaking research by Michael Dobbs, the Washington Post reporter who, in 1997, first disclosed the incredible and, until then, lost history of Madeleine Albright''s early life.

From Michael Dobbs, author of the book that inspired the smash hit Netflix series House of Cards, comes Winston''s War, a thrilling novel about the dawn of WWII and Winston Churchill''s rise to power. At the beginning of WWII, Neville Chamberlain believes he has bought "peace for our time" from Adolph Hitler, who has just seized Czechoslovakia''s Sudetenland. The English are alarmed by the huge German army, while the soldiers that would defend London don''t even have steel helmets. For many, compromise and appeasement seem to be England''s best defense. But there are a few leaders who don''t agree. Among them is Winston Churchill, who understands that the relentless march of fascism will be democracy''s death knell. In October 1938, Churchill pleads his case in the press to the BBC''s Guy Burgess. One of these two will become the most revered man of his time, and the other will be known as the greatest of traitors. This stunning novel brings to life the surprising political intrigues that set the stage for World War II, and brings alive the passionate, grumpy, whiskey-drinking Winston Churchill, as he inspires his fellow countrymen to take on the world''s mightiest army. Includes bonus reading group guide Praise for Michael Dobbs, bestselling author of House of Cards, the book that inspired the Netflix series: "An intriguing tale of espionage and treason... this is a work to enthrall."—Daily Mail "An author who can bring historical happenings so vitally back to life and made all the more impressive by being historically accurate in every respect."—Times of London "A fascinating tale of conspiracy, blackmail, and treachery."—Irish Independent "Dobbs takes us so far inside the mind of Winston Churchill that we feel as though we actually are him."—Booklist "Dobbs infuses dramatic tension, inventive plots, and heady pacing in the narration of a British icon''s noblest hours."—Publishers Weekly "Dobbs has done a brilliant job in evoking the drama and despair of Britain hovering on the edge of the abyss."—Sunday Express

ONE OF USA TODAY''S BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR • A riveting account of the crucial days, hours, and moments when the Watergate conspiracy consumed, and ultimately toppled, a president—from the best-selling author of One Minute to Midnight. In January 1973, Richard Nixon had just been inaugurated after winning re-election in a historic landslide. He enjoyed an almost 70 percent approval rating. But by April 1973, his presidency had fallen apart as the Watergate scandal metastasized into what White House counsel John Dean called “a full-blown cancer.” King Richard is the intimate, utterly absorbing narrative of the tension-packed hundred days when the Watergate conspiracy unraveled as the burglars and their handlers turned on one another, exposing the crimes of a vengeful president. Drawing on thousands of hours of newly-released taped recordings, Michael Dobbs takes us into the heart of the conspiracy, recreating these traumatic events in cinematic detail. He captures the growing paranoia of the principal players and their desperate attempts to deflect blame as the noose tightens around them. We eavesdrop on Nixon plotting with his aides, raging at his enemies, while also finding time for affectionate moments with his family. The result is an unprecedentedly vivid, close-up portrait of a president facing his greatest crisis. Central to the spellbinding drama is the tortured personality of Nixon himself, a man whose strengths, particularly his determination to win at all costs, become his fatal flaws. Rising from poverty to become the most powerful man in the world, he commits terrible errors of judgment that lead to his public disgrace. He makes himself—and then destroys himself. Structured like a classical tragedy with a uniquely American twist, King Richard is an epic, deeply human story of ambition, power, and betrayal.

A unique memoir in which a young adventurer from colonial Rhodesia charms his way around the world, sleeping in stately homes and public toilets, smuggling drugs across several borders, and losing a $50 million fortune to the CIA, before settling into a stellar banking career. Looking back on a life well lived as he faces terminal illness, he swears that the key to his success was his grueling training as a Buddhist monk in a snowbound Japanese monastery.

The combination of Michael Dobbs’ excellent writing skills and historical passion, and the legendary character of Winston Churchill, have provided two triumphantly successful books in WINSTON’S WAR and NEVER SURRENDER.

Get all three books in the series that inspired the hit Netflix series House of Cards "This blood-and-thunder tale, lifelike and thoroughly cynical, certainly carries the ring of authenticity... a great triumph." Independent "The exciting thriller that has Westminster buzzing. Here is a political thriller writer with a marvelous inside track knowledge of government. House of Cards is fast-moving, revelatory and brilliant." Daily Express Michael Dobbs has wowed readers with his bestselling House of Cards trilogy, which inspired the hit series on Netflix. Here are the three books in the trilogy for one low price: House of Cards, To Play the King, and The Final Cut. About the Books in This Bundle 1. House of Cards A dark tale of greed, corruption, and unquenchable ambition, House of Cards reveals that no matter the country, politics, intrigue and passion reign in the corridors of power. Francis Urquhart has his hand on every secret in politics and is willing to betray them all to become prime minister. Mattie Storin is a tenacious young reporter who has a knack for finding the real stories hidden behind the spin. When she stumbles upon a scandalous web of intrigue and financial corruption at the very highest levels, she vows to reveal the truth. But to do so she must battle her own demons and risk everything, even her life. 2. To Play the King After scheming his way to power in House of Cards, newly elected Prime Minister Francis Urquhart takes on the new King. The role of the monarchy in modern Britain comes under scrutiny as Prime Minister Francis Urquhart threatens to expose Royal secrets when his plans are blocked by the idealistic new King. Their differences of opinion quickly degenerate into open hostility. The battlefield ranges from architecture to the underprivileged; the battle is fought with rigged opinion polls, manipulated newspaper headlines, sexual scandal and economic brinkmanship as Urquhart sets out to destroy not only the King''s family and friends but even the King himself. 3. The Final Cut Now Francis Urquhart is about to take his place in the record books as the longest-serving Prime Minister this century. Yet it seems the public is tiring of him at last, and the movement to force him from power is growing. But Urquhart is not yet ready to be driven from office. If the public demands new blood, that is precisely what he will give them... This is a different Francis Urquhart more vulnerable, more loving, and more ruthless than ever. He will risk everything, but one thing is certain: whatever the outcome of this, his greatest gamble, the name of Francis Urquhart will never be forgotten.

From Michael Dobbs, author of the book that inspired the smash hit Netflix series House of Cards, Never Surrender finds newly-elected Prime Minister Winston Churchill in a personal confrontation with Adolf Hitler. The battle begins on Friday, May 10, 1940, when Hitler launches a devastating attack that within days will overrun France, Holland and Belgium and bring Britain to its knees at Dunkirk. Never Surrender examines Churchill''s courage and defiance and his ability to lead a nation during three of the most crucial weeks in its history. Without the physical forces necessary to stave off German attack, Churchill uses the force of words to stand in Hitler''s way, to show that no accords will be made. Dobbs is at his best in Never Surrender, a novel about the remarkable courage and defiance needed to save a nation at risk. Praise for Michael Dobbs, bestselling author of House of Cards, the book that inspired the Netflix series: "Dobbs is an author who can bring historical happenings to life." —The Times "Dobbs has done a brilliant job in evoking the drama and despair of Britain hovering on the edge of the abyss." —Sunday Express

When Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin met in Yalta in February 1945, Hitler’s armies were on the run, and victory was imminent. The Big Three wanted to draft a blueprint for a lasting peace—but instead they set the stage for a forty-four year division of Europe into Soviet and Western spheres of influence. After fighting side by side for nearly four years, their political alliance was beginning to fracture. Although the most dramatic Cold War confrontations such as the Berlin airlift were still to come, a new struggle for global hegemony had got underway by August 1945 when Truman used the atomic bomb on Hiroshima. Six Months in 1945 brilliantly captures this momentous historical turning point while illuminating the aims and personalities of larger-than-life political giants.

From a bestselling novelist with an unrivalled insight into the workings of power comes a compelling new novel exploring Winston Churchill''s remarkable journey from the wilderness to No 10 Downing Street at the beginning of World War II.

Into a world of cynicism and sleaze comes a new political hero, Goodfellowe M.P., the parliamentary detective - a man who has discovered the extraordinary powers of a backbencher to ask questions of anyone about anything - and the freedom to make an almighty public fuss.

"One of the great stories of our time . . . a wonderful anecdotal history of a great drama." --San Francisco Chronicle Book Review As Washington Post correspondent in Moscow, Warsaw, and Yugoslavia in the final decade of the Soviet empire, Michael Dobbs had a ringside seat to the extraordinary events that led to the unraveling of the Bolshevik Revolution. From Tito''s funeral to the birth of Solidarity in the Gda´ nsk shipyard, from the tragedy of Tiananmen Square to Boris Yeltsin standing on a tank in the center of Moscow, Dobbs saw it all. The fall of communism was one of the great human dramas of our century, as great a drama as the original Bolshevik revolution. Dobbs met almost all of the principal actors, including Mikhail Gorbachev, Lech Walesa, Vaclav Havel, and Andrei Sakharov. With a sweeping command of the subject and the passion and verve of an eyewitness, he paints an unforgettable portrait of the decade in which the familiar and seemingly petrified Cold War world--the world of Checkpoint Charlie and Dr. Strangelove--vanished forever. "Down with Big Brother ranks very high among the plethora of books about the fall of the Soviet Union and the death throes of Communism. It is possibly the most vividly written of the lot." -- Adam B. Ulam, Washington Post Book World "From the Trade Paperback edition.