DURSCHMIED'S The Hinge Factor and its sequels are some of the best recounts of the pivotal moments in history that you'll find anywhere.

This follows the same vein, though the focus is very much on individuals who have been either forgotten or overlooked by posterity.

As ever, it's well-told and researched in depth, and by sticking to 20th century stories, the author has ensured he has a lot of background information on which to

draw.

That's the slight flaw, as it does mean that the writing is less tight as his earlier works, and the chapters do tend to drag on occasionally.

Andrew Chappell