This is an excellent book. It tells a story that had not been told before, and indeed one which many would not have appreciated was there to be told. It draws on an impressive array of primary sources, as well as interviews with many of the key players involved. It is very well written, with the exception of the hyperbole of the opening paragraphs. John Vardalas displays a mastery of the technical details involved, as well as the social and political influences at work.