I have read short articles on William Walker and a long biography of Cornelius Vanderbilt, but this short book made me rethink what on when the US was in the throes of Manifest Destiny. Gerson offers a picture of Walker as a man searching for what Walker would perceive as fulfilling. Gets-new does not indulge in blind worship of his subject, but he does admire the fact that Walker tries medicine, the law, and journalism but finds them all somewhat disappointing. Walker ends up becoming a filibuster in Central America with the dream of bringing ‘American’ values to the populace. Gerson reveals a craving for the American dream of Manifest Destiny as not just American greed - though there is plenty of that in Vanderbilt and others - but also the ideal of American virtue.
I have seen a couple of articles connecting Walker to the idea of adding slave states to the Union, but Gerson points out that Walker was raised in an anti-slavery household, and while anti-slavery was not at the forefront of Walker’s thoughts, it certainly seems to me that current authors attempt to link Walker to adding slave states says more about those authors than it does about Walker. For me, this book shows how differently (some) Americans of the ante-vellum period thought.
I also learned more about the history of Central America here than I have learned elsewhere. This book got me cogitating, and I am grateful.
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I really enjoyed this book. As a Nicaraguan raised in the US, I’ve always been drawn to my heritage and birth country’s history. William Walker story is barely known by most contemporary Americans, as it is not taught in schools (I’m sure for a number of reasons). I will say though, the author at times almost sympathizes with Walker and almost romanticizes his feats of filibustering. Overall an excellent read that provides a historical account of his actions in Central America.
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- Reviewed in the United States on September 18, 2022
I really enjoyed this book. As a Nicaraguan raised in the US, I’ve always been drawn to my heritage and birth country’s history. William Walker story is barely known by most contemporary Americans, as it is not taught in schools (I’m sure for a number of reasons). I will say though, the author at times almost sympathizes with Walker and almost romanticizes his feats of filibustering. Overall an excellent read that provides a historical account of his actions in Central America.
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