ROM THE DISTINGUISHED AMERICAN HISTORIAN WHOSE WORK HAS BEEN ACCLAIMED AROUND THE WORLD, A MAJOR NEW BOOK THAT PENETRATES ONE OF THE MOST BIZARRE AND FASCINATING PARADOXES IN HISTORY: THE PERSISTENT PURSUIT BY GOVERNMENTS OF POLICIES CONTRARY TO THEIR OWN INTERSTS. ACROSS THE MARCH OF THIRTY CENTURIES,TUCHMAN BRINGS TO LIFE THE DRAMATIC EVENTS WHICH CONSTITUTE FOLLY'S HALLMARK IN GOVERNMENT; THE FALL OF TROY, SYMBOLIC PROTOTYPE OF FREELY CHOSEN DISASTER; THE PROTESTANT SECESSION, PROVOKED BY SIX DECADES OF SPECTACULARLY CORRUPT PAPCY; THE BRITISH FORFEITURE OF THE AMERICAN COLONIES; AND AMERICA'S CATASTROPHIC THIRTY YEAR INVOLVEMENT WITH VIETNAM.