The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War

Name: The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War
Price: 2.99 USD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.3 (863 reviews)
Author: James Bradley

by James Bradley

Nonfiction

4.3 (863)

4.3 stars from 863 reviews. Top 91% of Nonfiction books we track.

387 pages~6.5 hr readPublished by Back Bay BooksPublished 2009-01-01

$2.99Deal75% off peak

Last checked: May 6, 2026

Price history: $2.99 – $11.99

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Price range: $2.99 – $11.99

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Perfect for you if...

You're interested in how American foreign policy decisions made over a century ago still shape global conflicts today.
You read Flags of Our Fathers or Flyboys and want Bradley's deeper dive into imperial history.
You're sceptical of the official version of history taught in schools and want the overlooked context.

Maybe not for you if...

You prefer narrative-driven storytelling over historical analysis and connecting geopolitical dots.
You want uplifting American history rather than uncomfortable truths about your country's imperial past.
You're looking for a character-focused biography rather than a sweeping historical investigation.

About this book

James Bradley examines the true story of a secret American mission that shaped Asia's fate and world history. Following his World War II bestsellers Flags of Our Fathers and Flyboys, Bradley investigated the origins of the Pacific War and discovered a pivotal moment in American imperial history. In 1905, President Theodore Roosevelt sent Secretary of War William Howard Taft, his daughter Alice, and a team of congressmen to Japan, the Philippines, China, and Korea. Their mission was to negotiate a clandestine, unconstitutional agreement to divide Asia among world powers. This pact set in motion a chain of events leading to World War II, the Korean War, and the Communist revolution in China. In 2005, Bradley retraced this mission and uncovered the remarkable truth about American imperial ambitions—a story largely absent from standard history textbooks. The book connects long-ago decisions to their lasting consequences for international relations and global stability.

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$2.99 – $11.99

Currently on sale at $2.99 — 75% off peak. Price has dropped 9 times over the last 6 years. Goes on sale roughly every 253 days.

Sales Rank

Amazon sales rank: lower number = better selling book. #1 is the bestseller.

Currently around #71K in the Kindle store — a steady mid-list seller. Climbing the charts — 54% improvement recently.

Rating & Reviews

Purple line = star rating over time. Blue area = total review count growth.

Currently 4.3★ from 863 reviews

Gaining approximately 1 new review per month. Rating has remained stable at 4.3 over the tracking period.

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This book is currently discounted at $2.99. It typically returns to around $11.99.

Prices shown in USD from Amazon US. We continuously pull new data to improve tracking. If dates look old, it usually means there has been no significant change since the last data point.