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The War Lovers: Roosevelt, Lodge, Hearst, and the Rush to Empire, 1898 Audiobook
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(3.04) - 367 listener ratings
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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."
— Jamie (4 out of 5 stars)
Quotes
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“This is a book that, with its style and panache, is hard to forget and hard to put down.”
— New York Times Book Review -
This timely book is a cautionary tale about how the psyche of powerful and ambitious leaders may matter more than fact-or even truth-when the question of war arises.”
— The Washington Post -
“Thomas takes some risks in his biography of Theodore Roosevelt and his cohorts, trying to get not just inside their actions, but inside their heads. The result is an intriguing examination of the pull that war has on men.”
— Minneapolis Star Tribune -
“No biographer at work today has a surer feel for the human dimension of history than Evan Thomas…The War Lovers is as good as popular history gets.”
— Jon Meacham, author of American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House
The War Lovers Listener Reviews
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" Perfect background for Teddy Roosevelt and William Randolph Hearst. I love this time period and how America changed. It's fascinating for a history guy like me, not sure it has appeal otherwise. "
— Shane, 1/15/2014 -
" Thomas does his research and gives us an interesting perspective on TR ...bit of an ass up to and through the war. As president he mellows some. Good history read. "
— Posy, 1/14/2014 -
" This is a non fiction book exploring the character of American jingoism in general and the titled characters, specifically, during the run up to and during the Spanish American war of 1898. Teddy Roosevelt and his best friend Henry Cabot Lodge, were Brahmins of Boston and believed strongly in social Darwinism, which was popular among the upper classes of that time. Basically, they believed that the most fit species of humanity, that being the English speaking Anglo-Saxons, were meant to lead and rule the lesser part of humanity, and in line with that they were purveyors of American exceptionalism, a belief that America is special among nations. Both also were believers in war in general as a molder of men and a brake on effetism. There was no good reason for America to go to war with Spain over Cuba, but Roosevelt, Lodge and William Randolph Hearst, along with others in power, pushed for it and they succeeded. It is a very interesting history and has parallels today, although there are always parallels to most history, especially when it comes to man’s desire for war and it’s misperceived glories. "
— Darryl, 12/30/2013 -
" Well written and interesting. But Thomas seems overly influenced by modern leftist attitudes and clearly doesn't like Roosevelt or Lodge. He seems not to understand them and glosses over letters or actions that put their more aggressive quotes in context. "
— Victor, 12/30/2013 -
" Excellent look at post civil war warriors. The thinking behind the beginnings of American Imperialism "
— Carolyn, 12/21/2013 -
" Dad loved this one - it seemed very readable and the font was nice a big. "
— Kate, 10/14/2013 -
" Author seemed pretty hard on Theodore Roosevelt, which was an interesting take on his personality and actions prior to the Spanish-American War. Really enjoyed this. "
— Cathy, 6/20/2013 -
" Not my favorite book on Teddy.This guy had to have a war though. "
— David, 4/15/2013 -
" A very readable history of the dawn of American Imperialism. Learned a lot about the main characters and the country at this time. Shocked by Teddy's attitude. Loved that Canton and Ohio in general were very important places at this time in American history. "
— Nate, 7/8/2012 -
" Great history of T.R. and his buddies. "
— Beau, 2/2/2012 -
" Very good book. A lot of good information. "
— Philip, 8/31/2011 -
" Started out interesting, but became too dry for my taste. It's rather long, and I lost interest; did not finish this one. I may pick it back up another time, though! "
— Amy, 8/5/2011 -
" I enjoyed this book, another great recommendation from Beth. I gained a new appreciation (or lack thereof) for T. Roosevelt. And you thought Barry Goldwater was a hawk! "
— Kirk, 6/15/2011 -
" Listened to on tape. Excellent. Book was obviously well researched. "
— Laura, 3/24/2011 -
" Excellent audio book! Roosevelt and Lodge love war, so did Nixon and Kissinger. "
— Jose, 12/13/2010 -
" Great Read. The ride up San Jaun Hill, was more sanguinary and dangerous than I thought. Amazing that Roosevelt was'nt shot out of the saddle. "
— Jaime, 7/28/2010
About Evan Thomas
Evan Thomas is the author of several bestselling works of history and biography, including The War Lovers and Sea of Thunder. He was a writer and editor at Time and Newsweek for more than thirty years, and he is frequently a commentator on television and radio. He teaches at Princeton University and lives in Washington, DC.
About the Narrators
Richard Davidson has appeared on Broadway in I Hate Hamlet, Ghetto, and The Survivor, and off-Broadway in Bedfellows and Hurrah at Last. His television and film credits include Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, and The Hurricane.
Richard M. Davidson is an actor and Earphones Award–winning narrator. Trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he is well versed in theater and has had a long-standing career in acting, including a lead role in the show Diamonds, which aired on the CBS network, and a part in ESPN’s The Hustle.