From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Truman, here is the national bestselling epic chronicle of the creation of the Panama Canal. In The Path Between the Seas, acclaimed historian David McCullough delivers a first-rate drama of the sweeping human undertaking that led to the creation of this grand enterprise.
The Path Between the Seas tells the story of the men and women who fought against all odds to fulfill the 400-year-old dream of constructing an aquatic passageway between the Atlant... (show more)
From the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Truman, here is the national bestselling epic chronicle of the creation of the Panama Canal. In The Path Between the Seas, acclaimed historian David McCullough delivers a first-rate drama of the sweeping human undertaking that led to the creation of this grand enterprise.
The Path Between the Seas tells the story of the men and women who fought against all odds to fulfill the 400-year-old dream of constructing an aquatic passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. It is a story of astonishing engineering feats, tremendous medical accomplishments, political power plays, heroic successes, and tragic failures. Applying his remarkable gift for writing lucid, lively exposition, McCullough weaves the many strands of the momentous event into a comprehensive and captivating tale.
Winner of the National Book Award for history, the Francis Parkman Prize, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award, and the Cornelius Ryan Award (for the best book of the year on international affairs), The Path Between the Seas is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, the history of technology, international intrigue, and human drama. (show less)
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A fantastic history of what may still be the greatest engineering accomplishment of all time. The book really focuses on the incredible unity of p... (show more)
A fantastic history of what may still be the greatest engineering accomplishment of all time. The book really focuses on the incredible unity of purpose that guided the builders of the canal. Starting with the French attempt at a sea level crossing, the project was an all consuming passion for hundreds, if not thousands, of engineers and laborers. The United States actually parked gun boats off the coast to prevent Columbia from breaking up the coup. In exchange, the new state of Panama allowed the canal to go forward.
One of the fascinating bits of the project was the worry by some in the U.S. that the Canal Zone was a perfect Socialist system and returning workers would demand the level of services they received in Panama from their government.
My lone criticism is that I would have liked to hear more stories from the poor, imported, and mainly black workers that did most of the manual labor, and consequently, suffered the most from accidents and sickness. But a minor quibble in a suberb book about focused, driven, and legendary characters. (show less)
I love most of McCullough's writings but could barely get through this. It just went on and on. Yes - we finished the panama canal when the frenc... (show more)
I love most of McCullough's writings but could barely get through this. It just went on and on. Yes - we finished the panama canal when the french did what they usually do in tough situations - give up! (show less)
I read this about 25 years ago, and it was a slog. It must have taken me a month and a half to get through. I just couldn't get any traction.
This time around, it was much more interesting to me. (I suspect I got to be a better reader, not that the book somehow got better).
It's essentially three books
--- one on the French efforts to build the canal;
--- a second on the underhanded way in which Teddy Roosevelt and his administration abetted a revolution in Panama away from Columb... (show more)
I read this about 25 years ago, and it was a slog. It must have taken me a month and a half to get through. I just couldn't get any traction.
This time around, it was much more interesting to me. (I suspect I got to be a better reader, not that the book somehow got better).
It's essentially three books
--- one on the French efforts to build the canal;
--- a second on the underhanded way in which Teddy Roosevelt and his administration abetted a revolution in Panama away from Columbia in order to get access to the isthmus;
--- and a third about the successful attack on disease in the Canal Zone (which became amazingly healthy for white Americans, but still somewhat deadly for black West Indians) and on the successful US construction of the canal..
The last 50 pages or so drag a bit as McCullough gets knee-deep in statistics and in technical explanations about the machinery and the design of the canal.
But, overall, a fine, fine read.
His Brooklyn Bridge book is even better. (show less)
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A really excellent book, McCullough shows how the Panama Canal project marked the passing of the Victorian Era and the emergence of the 'American Century.' It captures all of the mid-19th century sense of inevitable progress which led the French into a catastrophe which could of been avoided. It also shows how the fall-out from the disaster pushed France into the period of populist anti-semitism which culminated in the shameful Dreyfuss affair.
The second part of the book details the trium... (show more)
A really excellent book, McCullough shows how the Panama Canal project marked the passing of the Victorian Era and the emergence of the 'American Century.' It captures all of the mid-19th century sense of inevitable progress which led the French into a catastrophe which could of been avoided. It also shows how the fall-out from the disaster pushed France into the period of populist anti-semitism which culminated in the shameful Dreyfuss affair.
The second part of the book details the triumphant American project. The character of Teddy Roosevelt stands out like a titan in this book, his determination to push America forward in all areas of life is encapsulated in the canal project.
McCullough writes with a complete grasp of the subject matter. His portraits of the people involved are sympathetic, but not to the point of glossing over their faults. He also manages to make the struggle against Mosquitos riveting. This really is history on an epic scale. (show less)
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