From the author of Lafayette in the Somewhat United States comes an examination of Hawaii; the place where Manifest Destiny got a sunburn. Of all the countries the United States invaded or colonized in 1898; Sarah Vowell considers the story of the Americanization of Hawaii to be the most intriguing. From the arrival of the New England missionaries in 1820; who came to Christianize the local heathens; to the coup d'état led by the missionaries' sons in 1893; overthrowing the Hawaiian queen; the events leading up to American annexation feature a cast of beguiling; if often appalling or tragic; characters. Whalers who fire cannons at the Bible-thumpers denying them their god-given right to whores; an incestuous princess pulled between her new god and her brother-husband; sugar barons; con men; Theodore Roosevelt; and the last Hawaiian queen; a songwriter whose sentimental ode "Aloha 'Oe" serenaded the first Hawaiian-born president of the United States during his 2009 inaugural parade.With her trademark wry insights and reporting; Vowell sets out to discover the odd; emblematic; and exceptional history of the fiftieth state. In examining the place where Manifest Destiny got a sunburn; she finds America again; warts and all.
#1548942 in Books 2004-08-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.70 x .73 x 5.62l; .63 #File Name: 159376006X192 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. I'd thoroughly recommend both his "flying" books and his novelsBy Ronald RogersBeing a pilot myself; James Salter's description of his first solo was spot on. More's the pity; he died recently leaving a canon of work which puts him right up in the top category of fiction and non-fiction writers. A much neglected writer who has recently received a lot of very well-deserved attention. As one commentator said; he lived the life Hemingway thought he had led and his writing is on a par. I'd thoroughly recommend both his "flying" books and his novels. I'm at present half way through he and his wife's 'Life is Meals' and loving it. Like all his (and in this case her) writing; it is taut - actually much like Hemingway; in the best sense. Given the spread of his writing and his other activities; he is a writer of whom many more should be aware.Whether flying and 'Gods of Tin' is up your alley or not; please introduce yourself to this wonderfull writer.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. An Aviator's Poetic ProseBy Pvt. W. G. Kirby CustomerI first became aware that James Salter was a writer the umpteenth time I watched the credits at the start of the movie "THE HUNTERS"; one of two of the finest films on Korean War aviators. Salter wrote the book the screenplay was based on; and in the 1990s I started seeking the book to read it for myself. Lucky for me; it had been reissued in 1997; so I got it and did so. A good read; a bit different from the movie story. More in depth about the feeling of flight and combat experiences. Salter is a fine writer and his command of the words can put you in the cockpit with the pilot; be he real or fictional. This book collects passages from two other books he wrote about his military flight career and entries from his personal journal kept during his tours of military flying duty through flight training in late WWII; into combat duty in Korea in 1952; and through his post war flying up into the early 1960s. Masterfully edited by Jessica and William Benton; it has been organized chronologically and simply is wonderful. You can read from the journal entry; and then it is followed by fiction he created using that experience. His mastery of the written image is beautiful and above all one senses his love of flying and all it entails. Salter has written other books; and reading the literary reviews of them; one learns he is an American literary master but has maintained a low profile..."off the radar"..to too many common readers. If you love aviation; follow history of flying or not; the words in this book will take you for a great experience in the "blue yonder" that is not always so wild; but always captivating and awe inspiring. Reading this book has led me to searching out his other works to add to my library. I think you will too.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Highly recommended; especially if you're a flying buffBy Ross KlatteJames Salter is (or was: he's recently deceased) a marvelous writer; and Gods of Tin is an engrossing read. It includes portions of his journal when he was a fighter pilot during the Korean War; providing fascinating details of that experience; followed by descriptions of his later flying experiences in Europe as a U.S. Air Force pilot under NATO. The book combines fiction and nonfiction; drawing on The Hunters; his novel about the air war in Korea between U.S. Sabre jets and Russian MiGs; and Cassada; his novel about flying in Europe after the Korean War; as well as his journal or notes on his flying experiences. Highly recommended; especially if you're a flying buff.
