The Path Between the Seas: The Creation of the Panama Canal, 1870-1914

The Path Between the Seas chronicles the creation of the Panama Canal between 1870 and 1914. David McCullough recounts the engineering, medical, and political efforts that led to the construction of a maritime passageway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, a goal pursued for four centuries. The narrative covers the accomplishments and failures of the men and women involved in the project, including engineering innovations, medical advances, political conflicts, and human determination. McCullough integrates these elements into a comprehensive account of how the canal transformed global trade routes and shaped American history. The book won the National Book Award for history, the Francis Parkman Prize, the Samuel Eliot Morison Award, and the Cornelius Ryan Award.