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The War Lovers
Roosevelt, Lodge, Hearst, and the Rush to Empire, 1898

by Evan Thomas

      In The War Lovers, Evan Thomas examines three men who loved war so much they would do almost anything to have one. These men, all wealthy Harvard graduates, could not live unless they had faced some form of combat, either by starting the battle or fighting in it.

One of those who wished to fight in a war was Theodore Roosevelt. It was not a matter of proving himself courageous. Hefd done that over and over in his western adventures. His was a matter of shame. His father had bought his way out of the Civil War, a common custom for wealthy men of the time. Young Theodore was deeply ashamed of what he perceived as his fatherfs cowardice. Only his service in combat could redeem the familyfs good name.

With his friend, Henry Cabot Lodge, it was a political move to reunite North and South after the Civil War. William Randolph Hearst, on the other hand, needed the kind of world events that could bring his newspaper out of the red ink. A war would fill the bill nicely.

What makes people so fond of war? Most fight only when the warmongers drag them into battle. Others are so enamored of conflict, they will start a fight if none exists. The War Lovers examines these men to see what drove them to start the Spanish-American War. Well written by a veteran journalist, The War Lovers attempts to explain why many people find war so alluring that they seemingly will avoid peace at all costs. Though they say itfs for the country's well-being, it seldom is. It is often just an excuse to get a fight going for self gain or gratification. Read The War Lovers. You will find it very educational!

The Book

Hachette Audio Books
April 27, 2010
Audiobook /Unabridged Audio CD/ 12 CDs
1607882043 / 978-1607882046
History /
More at Amazon.com
Excerpt
NOTE: Contains violence, profanity

The Reviewer

Jo Rogers
Reviewed 2010
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