Within a few years of each other in the 1880s five Americans were born who would play large parts in leading the way toward a new balance of global power - away from Europe in favour of the United States - over the course of the first and second world wars and beyond. These men had been born into a political world dominated by Europe. When their careers were complete no nation could match American influence politically, economically and militarily. This is a major work of popular history by the acclaimed author of A Peace to End All Peace. David Fromkin brings a sparkling fluency and storytelling instinct to the wonderfully large narrative and the characters who form its story - Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Marshall and MacArthur.