Panama Fever: The Epic Story of the Building of the Panama Canal
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | 4.15 (847 Votes) |
| Asin | : | 1400095182 |
| Format Type | : | paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 576 Pages |
| Publish Date | : | 2014-06-26 |
| Language | : | English |
DESCRIPTION:
An exemplary history, vigorously told.” —Los Angeles Times“A marvelously comprehensive work about an epic engineering triumph.” —The Philadelphia Inquirer“A detailed study of the myriad personalities and design plans associated with the work Parker's limpid prose is best suited to accounts of the dangers the laborers faced.” —The New Yorker“Parker has written the Panama story for a new generation. It is the workers' heartfelt views on the conditions in which they lived and worked that really bring this book to life.” —The Economist“Few great feats of engineering have been steeped in as much passion and tragedy as the Panama Canal, and no one tells the story better
He lives in London. . Matthew Parker is the author of The Battle of Britain and Monte Casino. He earned a degree in English at Oxford University, and now works as a writer and editor specializing in modern history
"Factual but lacks the entertainment value of McCullough's classic" according to Elaine Mills. I had purchased this book in preparation for an upcoming small ship educational cruise from New England through the Panama Canal with Smithsonian Journeys and tried several times to read it through to completion before starting the cruise. I couldn't get beyond the first 50 pages, no matter how hard I tried. Once on the cruise, I was introduced to McCullough's classic - "The Path Between the Seas". Although "Panama Fever" delivered on the facts and was published much more recently, it p. ""Panama Fever" details the labor issues more & the US congressional hearings less than David McC's "The Path Between The Seas"" according to Whetstone Guy. "Panama Fever" emphasizes more of the human tragedy in building the Canal than David McCullough's "The Path Between The Seas". By human tragedy I mean death and injury in the thousands due to diseases and accidents. Another reviewer also noted this human tragedy. But David McCullough deals with this issue also. "Panama Fever" relates much more than David McCullough of the feelings via the writings of the lowest paid laborers, who were overwhelmingly West Indians. David McCullough discus. Excellent people-based social history R. W. Levesque I have to admit I really enjoyed this one. I know this because I couldn't put it down and even stayed up late on some nights to read it. And, keep in mind, I did this despite the fact I've read a wide variety of books on the Panama Canal, and some obscure historical studies, because of a personal interest driven by my nearly eight years living in Panama courtesy of three tours with the US Army.Parker's book is a great companion to "A Path Between the Seas." (Which I also seriously recom
Politicians engaged in high-stakes diplomacy in order to influence its construction. Meanwhile, engineers and workers from around the world rushed to take advantage of high wages and the chance to be a part of history. The Panama Canal was the costliest undertaking in history; its completion in 1914 marked the beginning of the “American Century.” Panama Fever draws on contemporary accounts, bringing the experience of those who built the canal vividly to life. Filled with remarkable characters, Panama Fever is an epic history that shows how a small, fiercely contested strip of land made the world a smaller place and launched the era of American global dominance.