Twenty years after the fall of the Berlin Wall, many still believe it was the words of President Ronald Reagan, Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall! that brought the Cold War to an end. Meyer disagrees, and in this compelling account, explains why.

Genesis -- The Wall -- Democracy on the Danube -- A miraculous conversion -- Parallel universes -- The Hungarian connection -- High noon -- Déjeuner sur l'herbe, or Hieronymus Bosch's Hell -- The great escape -- Vortex of change -- A kiss of death -- The fall -- Aftermath -- Denouement.