Panama Fever: The Epic Story of the Building of the Panama Canal by Matthew Parker - 2007 - 442 Pages

 

Panama Fever: The Epic Story of the Building of the Panama Canal by Matthew Parker - 2007 - 442 Pages 

Seven years ago, in consultation with Max u, it was decided every December there should be a post in Observation of the Birth Anniversary of our father, born on December 2, 1918 in a small then very undeveloped tiny town in south Georgia, Cairo.

Our Father served four years in the United States Army during World War Two.  He was a junior officer serving under General Douglas MacArthur.  He was stationed in New Guinea and shortly after the war in the Philippines.  For the initial observation in December of 2018 I posted on a wonderful book, Rampage MacArthur, Yamashita and The Battle of Manila by James M. Scott .  Shortly after I posted, the author, a great speaker, did a book tour in Manila.  My wife and I attended one of his talks. Afterwards we had a lovely conversation with Mr. Scott.

In 2024 I came upon a perfect book for the annual birthday observation, War at the End of the World: Douglas MacArthur and the Forgotten Fight For New Guinea, 1942-1945 Book by James P Duffy.  

In 1937 our father was stationed in Panama. Panama Fever: The Epic Story of the Building of the Panama Canal by Matthew Parker is my selection for 2024

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. 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. 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 domination.

"Matthew was born in El Salvador in 1970 to an expatriate family and while growing up lived in Britain, Norway and Barbados. He read English at Balliol College Oxford, then worked in a number of roles in book publishing in London from salesman to commissioning editor.

His first book, published in 2000, was about the Battle of Britain. Then followed Monte Cassino, Panama Fever (Hell’s Gorge in UK paperback), The Sugar Barons, Goldeneye and Willoughbyland. His most recent book, published on 28 September, tells the story of 29 September 1923, a hundred years ago, when the British Empire reached its maximum territorial extent.

When not writing/staring out of the window, he loves making sushi, pubs, growing stuff and visiting remote places.

He is a member of the Authors Cricket Club, and wrote a chapter of A Season of English Cricket from Hackney to Hambledon. He is also a contributor to the  Oxford Companion to Sweets.

He has been elected a fellow of the Royal Historical Society and lives in East London with his wife, three children and an annoying dog." From the author's website