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A review by uncle_duke
The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War by James Bradley
3.0
The cumulative comments of other reviewers provide adequate perspective on James Bradley's thesis on the influence + consequences of a widely-held deep belief in "Divine Aryan Eminence" - so no more need be added.
However, while Teddy Roosevelt + Big-Bill Taft are the centerpiece of this slice of the chronicles in the 19th-20th century - I am certain there is an "Imperial Cruise" underlying every person in history that has altered the course of social, economic, political evolution.
"Revisionist" views should make one wonder what has been the MOST revised - history as originally learned, or as later discovered.
The information presented in Imperial Cruise is provocative - the carefully self-crafted persona of Mt. Rushmore Theodore's rough-rider rule of the rifle - the military invasions and occupations to pacify, civilize, OR exterminate the "Dark Others" - might-makes-right manifest destinies - secret conspiracies with the "Honorary Aryans" in Asia - the wealth of the great New England families derived from illegal opium trade - ultimate supremacy of Teutonic Anglo-Saxon White-Christian "globe girdling destiny" to "follow the sun" and "civilize the lesser races."
Overall, as opposed to the time-traveler jumping around in history - I would have preferred a simpler chronological framework to tell the story. And, I am definitely going to find out more about "Princess Alice."
However, while Teddy Roosevelt + Big-Bill Taft are the centerpiece of this slice of the chronicles in the 19th-20th century - I am certain there is an "Imperial Cruise" underlying every person in history that has altered the course of social, economic, political evolution.
"Revisionist" views should make one wonder what has been the MOST revised - history as originally learned, or as later discovered.
The information presented in Imperial Cruise is provocative - the carefully self-crafted persona of Mt. Rushmore Theodore's rough-rider rule of the rifle - the military invasions and occupations to pacify, civilize, OR exterminate the "Dark Others" - might-makes-right manifest destinies - secret conspiracies with the "Honorary Aryans" in Asia - the wealth of the great New England families derived from illegal opium trade - ultimate supremacy of Teutonic Anglo-Saxon White-Christian "globe girdling destiny" to "follow the sun" and "civilize the lesser races."
Overall, as opposed to the time-traveler jumping around in history - I would have preferred a simpler chronological framework to tell the story. And, I am definitely going to find out more about "Princess Alice."