L.V. SCOTT is Senior Lecturer in International Politics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, where since 1990 he has specialised in international history and intelligence studies. From 1984 to 1988 he was Political Assistant to the Rt Hon Denis Healey, MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary. He has written on a variety of defence and security issues, and is the author of Conscription and the Attlee Governments: The Politics and Policy of National Service 1945-51, published in the Oxford Historical Monographs series.

• Preface General Editor's Preface Glossary Improbable History The Cuban Revolution and British-American Relations Discovery and Blockage: Informing or Consulting? Converging Perspectives and Divergent Views Westminster and Hyde Park: British Politics and the Crisis Diplomatic Initiatives and Devious Approaches Ormsby-Gore and Penkovsky: British Contributions? Thor and Vulcan: British Gods of War 'The Frightful Desire to do Something' Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

'This is a scholarly and readable book that makes a very complex relationship accessible to all readers, whether or not they have prior knowledge of the Cuban Missile crisis...It is a book that makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the momentous events of the Cuban missile crisis. It will become an essential read for all those who want to know what happened, when and why from the British perspective.' - Alan P. Dobson, Contemporary British History 'This is a very good, careful study of the issues which arose between the two countries and is written in a clear style.' - Michael F. Hopkins, International Affairs

L.V. SCOTT is Senior Lecturer in International Politics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, where since 1990 he has specialised in international history and intelligence studies. From 1984 to 1988 he was Political Assistant to the Rt Hon Denis Healey, MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary. He has written on a variety of defence and security issues, and is the author of Conscription and the Attlee Governments: The Politics and Policy of National Service 1945-51, published in the Oxford Historical Monographs series.

• Preface General Editor's Preface Glossary Improbable History The Cuban Revolution and British-American Relations Discovery and Blockage: Informing or Consulting? Converging Perspectives and Divergent Views Westminster and Hyde Park: British Politics and the Crisis Diplomatic Initiatives and Devious Approaches Ormsby-Gore and Penkovsky: British Contributions? Thor and Vulcan: British Gods of War 'The Frightful Desire to do Something' Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

'This is a scholarly and readable book that makes a very complex relationship accessible to all readers, whether or not they have prior knowledge of the Cuban Missile crisis...It is a book that makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the momentous events of the Cuban missile crisis. It will become an essential read for all those who want to know what happened, when and why from the British perspective.' - Alan P. Dobson, Contemporary British History 'This is a very good, careful study of the issues which arose between the two countries and is written in a clear style.' - Michael F. Hopkins, International Affairs

L.V. SCOTT is Senior Lecturer in International Politics at the University of Wales, Aberystwyth, where since 1990 he has specialised in international history and intelligence studies. From 1984 to 1988 he was Political Assistant to the Rt Hon Denis Healey, MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary. He has written on a variety of defence and security issues, and is the author of Conscription and the Attlee Governments: The Politics and Policy of National Service 1945-51, published in the Oxford Historical Monographs series.

• Preface General Editor's Preface Glossary Improbable History The Cuban Revolution and British-American Relations Discovery and Blockage: Informing or Consulting? Converging Perspectives and Divergent Views Westminster and Hyde Park: British Politics and the Crisis Diplomatic Initiatives and Devious Approaches Ormsby-Gore and Penkovsky: British Contributions? Thor and Vulcan: British Gods of War 'The Frightful Desire to do Something' Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index

'This is a scholarly and readable book that makes a very complex relationship accessible to all readers, whether or not they have prior knowledge of the Cuban Missile crisis...It is a book that makes a significant contribution to our understanding of the momentous events of the Cuban missile crisis. It will become an essential read for all those who want to know what happened, when and why from the British perspective.' - Alan P. Dobson, Contemporary British History 'This is a very good, careful study of the issues which arose between the two countries and is written in a clear style.' - Michael F. Hopkins, International Affairs