Portrait of the Panama Canal: From Construction to (Paperback)

by William Friar (Author) "The transit of the SS Ancon on August 15, 1914, marked the official opening of the Panama Canal..." (more)
Key Phrases: lock chambers, United States, Canal Zone, Gaillard Cut (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Completely revised and updated in time for the Centennial Anniversary of breaking ground for the Panama Canal, this lively collection of historic and contemporary photographs and informative and insightful text dramatically showcases one of the true wonders of the world.

About the Author
Author WILLIAM FRIAR, a San Francisco resident, grew up in the Canal Zone near the Pacific entrance to the Panama Canal. A graduate of Stanford University and the Columbia University School of Journalism, he is a full-time writer and columnist.

Foreword writer GEORGE R. GOETHALS, great-grandson of George W. Goethals, chief engineer of the Panama Canal from 1907 until its completion in 1914, is professor of psychology at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

Product Details

• Paperback: 80 pages
• Publisher: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558687467
• ISBN-13: 978-1558687462
• Product Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.3 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #381,771 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #14 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Travel > Central America
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent short and concise history of the Panama Canal., September 5, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Portrait of the Panama Canal (Paperback)

Not only does Friar present a wonderful historical synopsis of the Canal, he also paints a verbal picture of life as a child growing up in the Canal Zone. The photographs of the Canal are some of the best I have seen. The captions are not "one-liners," they actually describe the what the reader is seeing in the photograph. The reader should come away with a very good knowledge of Panama Canal history and an understanding of how the Canal operates all within the 2 to 3 hours it takes to read the book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Overview; Great Pictures., August 1, 2006

By	G. Sealey (Marietta, GA (USA)) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Friar does an excellent job of giving the reader an overview of all of the major events that lead to the canal's existence. If you are interested in learning the details of the canal's construction story, then I would recommend David McCullough's epic work, "The Path Between the Seas." But, for an overview, this book is a good resource.

The pictures included in the book are very good and add a good visual complement to the text.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for cruise passengers, June 14, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Portrait of the Panama Canal: From Construction to the Twenty-First Century (International Portrait Series) (Paperback)

I read this book prior to transiting the Canal. It covers history and operations in precise detail and the numerous dramatic photos make it a wonderful souvenir of the Canal. There are other books that are very long and heavy to take with you.This book has all the information in easily readable style for those who don't have time for a thick book on this subject. Reads like an adventure story.