Book review: 1983: The World At The Brink, By Taylor Downing

As well as being the successful author of books on 20th century military history, Taylor Downing is an experienced film-maker, winning the 2008 Grierson Award for Best Historical Documentary for his Flashback Television 90-minute drama-documentary feature 1983 – The Brink of the Apocalypse. Ten years on, the tension, drama and immediacy of the film are bolstered by evidence from newly declassified documents and recent interviews from key players who are only now able to speak and Downing has written a book which is both riveting, and horrifying: make no mistake, in the autumn of 1983, the world really was at the brink.