The Path Between the Seas by David McCullough

“It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

            - Theodore Roosevelt, as displayed in the Rotunda of the Administration Building

I honestly would never have undertaken the reading of this book except for a planned cruise through the Panama Canal. Aside from being 600+ pages, it was quite technical at times and had so many names to remember. McCullough's historical writing, though, is so much more interesting than most nonfiction and far more entertaining than a textbook.

The Path... definitely presented more information than I needed to know and likely a lot I won't remember. However, when I hear lectures offered on the cruise ship I'll have some background and probably recall some of the pertinent facts.

Some surprising things I learned in reading (and I confess I knew very little beforehand):

• Interest in and research of the idea of a canal to connect the oceans began in earnest with Grant's term.
• The French began the canal in Panama and worked on it about 8 years before the project went bankrupt.
• When a canal was being discussed in the U.S., many in authority wanted a Nicaraguan route.
• Theodore Roosevelt made the final decision to continue the canal in Panama, influenced greatly by a Frenchman named Phillipe Bunau-Varilla.
• When Columbia would not sign a contract to allow for the building of the canal, the U.S. fomented a rebellion of Panama, then part of Columbia. When Panama won independence in an almost bloodless revolution, thanks to the U. S. Navy, an agreement was reached with the Panamanians.
• Three chief engineers were in charge of the building: John Findlay Wallace, John Frank Stevens and George Washington Goethals (the only name I actually remembered.)
• Though Goethals was given a great deal of credit for the success of the canal, he later said "the real builder of the Panama Canal was Theodore Roosevelt."
• William Howard Taft was very influential, as well. As Secretary of War he visited Panama 5 times and as president, twice. More importantly he hired Stevens who had a huge impact on the successful start of the U.S. efforts and recommended Goethals who brought it to a conclusion---the "giant engineering feat of the ages." [Roosevelt]

I am very glad I read The Path Between the Seas; I will rate it a 4.  Now I'm looking forward to reading a novel for fun!