Overview

"President Theodore Roosevelt called him ""one of the greatest and most useful influences in American life."" In the words of Robert Seager II, Mahan had ""much to do with resurrecting the U.S. Navy from its post-Civil War grave, and with giving it the professional ballast and theoretical direction that helped guide it to victory in 1898, in 1918, and in 1945."" By many Americans he is recalled chiefly as the author of The Influence of Sea Power upon History. That brilliant, instantly acclaimed volume was in many ways the most influential book written by an American in the nineteenth century. This biography goes far beyond a consideration of Mahan as the world-famous historian, diplomatist, and strategist. Family papers made available to the author depict Mahan the swain, husband, and father, and reveal insights into his personality, character, religious beliefs, professional frustrations, social aspirations, and financial difficulties. This book is the portrait-warts and all-of a historian, strategist, tactician, philosopher, Episcopalian, theologian, diplomat, imperialist, mercantilist, capitalist, Anglophile, patriot, Republican, racist, Social Darwinist, journalist, polemicist, naval reformer, adviser to presidents and legislators, teacher, academic administrator, social climber, egoist, introvert, swain, husband, and father."""

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9781591145929

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[T]his [is a] valuable reprint ... Trawling through Mahan's 2,900 surviving letters, his diaries, his 20 books, 137 articles and numerous speeches, the author presents us with an excellent analysis and appreciation of Mahan the man.... This is a very valuable book for anyone interested in naval history, doctrine, tactics, strategy, theory and philosophy whether professionally or intellectually or both. --Baird Maritime

Author Information

Dr Robert Seager II (1925-2004) taught college history for forty years. He is the author or editor of numerous books and articles on American history, and received the U.S. Naval Institute Award of Merit, the Navy League Award for Literary Achievement, the John Lyman Book Award, and the University of Kentucky Hallam Award for Mahan's biography.

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