The book by English journalist Thomas de Waal talks about the causes and course of the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Tens of thousands of people died, more than a million fled their homes, and the economies of Azerbaijan and Armenia suffered colossal damage. The narrative is based on documents, personal observations and numerous interviews taken by the author from Armenians and Azerbaijanis - both famous politicians and ordinary people, willing and unwilling participants in the bloody confrontation.