In 1951, Britain's major overseas asset was Iranian oil, discovered, produced and exported by a British company. This book relates how Britain planned to use force in order to retain control of the world's largest oil refinery at Abadan.

Verdict in dispute;thunder in the air; seconds out of the ring; Buccaneer is conceived; decision, decisions; second thoughts; holidays for some; final spasm; aftermath in retrospect; one answer to the question; notes and references.