Publisher Description
On February 15, 1898, the American ship USS Maine mysteriously exploded in the Havana Harbor. News of the blast quickly reached U.S. shores, where it was met by some not with alarm but great enthusiasm.
A powerful group of war lovers agitated that the United States exert its muscle across the seas. Theodore Roosevelt and Henry Cabot Lodge were influential politicians dismayed by the “closing” of the Western frontier. William Randolph Hearst’s New York Journal falsely heralded that Spain’s “secret infernal machine” had destroyed the battleship as Hearst himself saw great potential in whipping Americans into a frenzy. The Maine would provide the excuse they’d been waiting for.
On the other side were Roosevelt’s former teacher, philosopher William James, and his friend and political ally, Thomas Reed, the powerful Speaker of the House. Both foresaw a disaster. At stake was not only sending troops to Cuba and the Philippines, Spain’s sprawling colony on the other side of the world-but the friendships between these men.
Now, bestselling historian Evan Thomas brings us the full story of this monumental turning point in American history. Epic in scope and revelatory in detail, The War Lovers takes us from Boston mansions to the halls of Congress to the beaches of Cuba and the jungles of the Philippines. It is landmark work with an unforgettable cast of characters-and provocative relevance to today.
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“How do you go about justifying war? With a lot of talk about national pride, some misinformation, and the need to democratize primitive societies. This sounds a little like the rationale for the Iraq War (Part 2). But I’m speaking of the Spanish-American War of 1898, over a century before. Back then, however, there was more emphasis on Anglo-Saxon superiority as well as an exceptionally charismatic leader in the war effort, Teddy Roosevelt. The Civil War was no longer fresh in the people’s minds and Roosevelt and Senator Henry Cabot Lodge were hungry for U.S. expansionism. Meanwhile, a muckraking newspaper editor named William Randolph Hearst looked to profit from war fever. Author Evan Thomas profiles these complex characters and also examines the struggles of two anti-war advocates, House Speaker Thomas Brackett Reed and professor William James (brother of Henry). It’s a great examination of how people are bullied into believing aggression is necessary for national gain. At least now, we have better press coverage and hopefully we’re less bigoted.”
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Jamie (4 out of 5 stars)
