This is the terrifying story of how nuclear weapons technology is in increasing danger of getting into the wrong hands.

As more unstable nations find ways of acquiring the ultimate arms, the stakes of state-sponsored nuclear activity have soared to frightening heights. Even more disturbing is the likelihood of such weapons being manufactured and deployed by guerrilla non-state terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda. Drawing on astonishing conversations, interviews and first-hand sources, The Atomic Bazaar investigates the inexorable drift of nuclear weapons technology from the hands of the rich into the hands of the poor.

William Langewiesche takes us to the smuggling back routes in Turkey and to the extraordinary 'nuclear cities' in Russia, which housed nearly a million people yet for decades were so secret that they did not appear on maps. He meets disillusioned Washington officials, scientists, technicians, smugglers and spies. He also tells the extraordinary story of Abdul Qadeer Khan, the scientist at the forefront of nuclear development and trade in the Middle East, who masterminded the theft and sale of centrifuge designs that helped build Pakistan's nuclear arsenal, and who single-handedly peddled nuclear plans of North Korea, Iran and other potentially hostile countries.

From Hiroshima to the present day, Langewiesche describes a reality of urgent consequence. Searing, provocative and timely, this is investigative journalism at its very best.