Ebook: Panama fever: the epic story of the building of the Panama Canal

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 global dominance.;Part one -- The golden isthmus: The keys to the universe -- Rivalry and stalemate -- Gold rush -- A natural culminating point -- The competing routes. Part two -- Le grand Francais -- The fatal decision -- The riches of France -- Travail commence -- Fever -- Jules Dingler -- Annus horribilis -- Collapse and scandal. Part three -- The American triumph: Heroes and Villains- the "Battle of the Routes" -- I took the Isthmus -- Make the dirt fly -- Yellow Jack -- Restart -- The railroad era -- The digging machine -- Segregation -- The army of Panama -- Hell's Gorge -- Lord how piercing! -- The land divided, the world united -- Whose canal is it, anyway?