One of the indisputable Wonders of the World, its listing silhouette is instantly recognizable the world over. Now Nicholas Shrady tells the story of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, from its curse-ridden beginnings - construction was halted for a century after the erection of the first four stories in 1173 - through earthquakes, world wars, the onslaught of modern tourism, and a $30 million stabilization and restoration. This singular monument stands (five degrees askew) in defiance of logic, gravity, and soaring odds - a mute witness to almost a millennium of history.