The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914

The National Book Award–winning epic chronicle of the creation of the Panama Canal, a first-rate drama of the bold and brilliant engineering feat that transformed global trade routes and shaped modern American history, as told by Pulitzer Prize–winning author and master historian David McCullough.

A national bestseller and testament to human determination, The Path Between the Seas tells the stories of the men and women who fought against all odds to fulfill the 400-year-old dream of constructing a maritime passageway between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. McCullough masterfully recounts astonishing engineering and medical accomplishments, political power plays, heroic successes, and tragic failures. Applying his remarkable gift for writing lucid, lively exposition, McCullough weaves the many strands of the momentous event into a comprehensive and captivating tale.

Winner of the National Book Award for history, the Francis Parkman Prize, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award, and the Cornelius Ryan Award (for the best book of the year on international affairs), The Path Between the Seas is a must-read for anyone interested in American history, technological innovation, international intrigue, and human drama.

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Published Oct 15, 1978

698 pages

Average rating: 7.38

13 RATINGS

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Community Reviews

Dave Cheeney
May 28, 2024
8/10 stars
Excellent history, if a bit long. Much of the detail could have been a technical appendix (the life of mosquitoes...)
Vincent from Seinfeld
Jul 16, 2024
6/10 stars
My first David McCullough book. I thought I love history, but this book is really dense in material. I have to admit, I learned something new about the Panama Canal. Be prepared for a slow read.
andymcphee
Mar 27, 2023
10/10 stars
Fantastic view of an amazing accomplishment.

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