by Ronald Steel
First published 1967
Set during the height of American global influence in the 1960s, this novel follows a State Department official navigating the complexities of superpower politics. The protagonist finds himself caught between idealistic visions of American leadership and the harsh realities of international diplomacy. As tensions escalate in multiple theaters of the Cold War, he must reconcile his personal beliefs with the demands of maintaining America's position as the world's dominant force. The story explores the moral weight of empire and the human cost of wielding unprecedented power on the global stage. Steel crafts a narrative that reveals how individual conscience clashes with national interest in an era when American decisions shape the fate of nations.
Genres: american-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, american, war, political-thriller
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: moral-dilemma, personal-vs-professional
Setting: United States
Period: 1960s
371 pages · Hardcover · Viking Adult