The Imperial Cruise : A Secret History of Empire and War by James Bradley (2010,

In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt dispatched a large diplomatic mission under then Secretary of War (and later President) William Howard Taft, across the Pacific to establish a series of treaties and agreements, mostly unconstitutional, with what he termed the “civilized” elements in Asian society at the time, in order to increase Armerica’s imperial reach and influence. These agreements, largely forgotten now, were to eventually lead to WWII, the rise of Chinese Communism, and the Korean War, and to cost millions of lives. Author James Bradley, whose father was one of the flag-raisers on Iwo Jima, retraced the footsteps of Taft and his party one hundred years later, and has uncovered the facts behind what really happened in each country visited after these unfortunate treaties were signed. Much of what transpired makes uncomfortable reading today, and one can only draw the conclusion that “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”, as the saying goes. This is a fascinating book to read, but not an encouraging one. This 2009 Trade Paperback is in very good condition, with no internal markings and nominal cover wear.