A thing of state

In their conduct of foreign policy, modern American presidents must never utter threats they can't - or won't - enforce, make promises they can't - or won't - keep, or renege on their commitments to their allies. This is the underlying premise of the powerful new political novel by Allen Drury.

The battle for strategic advantage, for the world's headlines and broadcasts, and for domestic political advantage, as the President prepares to run for a second term, forms the basis of this informed, sophisticated, and fascinating novel of present-day politics in all its tricky variations from Washington to Greater Lolome City, with the United Nations a major stop along the way.