In this slim but hardhitting volume, diplomat kennan at a centurys ending, lj 101595 and historian lukacs destinations past, lj 61594 rebut the revisionist argument that the united states. Gaddis, a cold war scholar at yale university and prizewinning author of several books on the subject, has provided an important, if not indispensable biography of kennan in george f. Sep 22, 2012 from the 12th annual national book festival, author john lewis gaddis talks about his pulitzer prizewinning biography, george f. John lukacs university of pennsylvania press, 2010 ps primary source a primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a topic. From the 12th annual national book festival, author john lewis gaddis talks about his pulitzer prizewinning biography, george f. Online shopping from a great selection at books store.
Kennan, then a twentyeightyearold member of the foreign service, stationed in riga, latvia. Kennan from the questia online library, including fulltext online books, academic journals. France, russia, and the coming of the first world war, new york. Discover book depositorys huge selection of george f kennan books online. I found this set of his memoirs even more interesting than the second book of memoirs he wrote later. In the late 1940s, george kennan wrote two documents, the long telegram and the x article, which set forward the strategy of containment that would define u. Drawing on his considerable diplomatic experience and expertise, kennan offers an overview and critique of the foreign policy of an emerging great power whose claims to rightness often spill over into selfrighteousness, whose ambitions conflict with. Jun 21, 2012 discover book depositorys huge selection of george f kennan books online. An american life ebook written by john lewis gaddis. Kennan has 38 books on goodreads with 5548 ratings. Nov 10, 2011 drawing on extensive interviews with george kennan and exclusive access to his archives, an eminent scholar of the cold war delivers a revelatory biography of its troubled mastermind. My first contact with george kennan came 50 years ago as a college junior in international relations, having been assigned kennans concise lenin and the west. An american life, the cold war historian john lewis gaddis reveals the author of the containment doctrine, which governed united states foreign policy for.
Drawing on his considerable diplomatic experience and expertise, kennan offers an overview and critique of the foreign policy of an emerging great power whose claims to rightness often spill over into selfrighteousness, whose ambitions. Kennan was born in norwalk, ohio and was keenly interested in travel from an early age. List of books and articles about george kennan online. He is best known for his role in shaping us foreign policy during the cold war and, in particular, for the doctrine of containment. Kennan 19042005 was a diplomat and a historian, noted especially for his influence on united states policy towards the soviet union during the cold war and for his scholarly expertise in the areas of russian history and foreign policy. Kennan by john lewis gaddis that won the 2012 pulitzer prize for biography or autobiography.
George kennan, 18451924, american authority on siberia, b. He was best known as an advocate of a policy of containment of soviet expansion during the cold war. Kennan ended his book with a lament that the america of his youth no longer existed as he complained that most americans were seduced by. Kennan then a bright but, relatively obscure american diplomat wrote the long. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. His articles on siberia, for many years almost the sole authoritative source of information on that region, were published as tent life in siberia 1870 and siberia and the exile system 2 vol. George kennan was the most famous russianist of our time. His previous books include the united states and the origins of the cold war.
George kennan february 16, 1845 1924 was an american explorer noted for his travels in the kamchatka and caucasus regions of russia. December 7, 2011 in the late 1970s, historian john lewis gaddis decided to write a biography of george f. George frost kennan february 16, 1904 march 17, 2005 was an american diplomat and historian. Given this background, the kennan diaries is an illuminating, fascinating and sometimes disturbing book. Kennan kennan showed that soviet communism and americanstyle capitalism were at odds with each other, and were destined to clash. Kennans vision struck that college junior forever, and gaddis biography is one of the few expressions that measures up to the great mans legacy. George frost kennan february 16, 1904 march 17, 2005 was an american advisor, diplomat, political scientist, and historian, best known as the father of containment and as a key figure in the emergence of the cold war. Kennan has had more influence over american foreign policy than anyone else i know of.
Discover librarianselected research resources on george f. And adventures among the koraks and other tribes in kamtchatka and northern asia. Kennan, consists of two sets of lectures that kennan gave in the 1950s plus two articles he wrote for foreign affairs. Kennan then a bright but, relatively obscure american diplomat wrote the long telegram and the x article. Kennan 19042005 exerted a profound influence on the conduct of american foreign policy, especially during the years of the cold war. Kennan all formats kindle edition paperback hardcover sort by. For their part, kennan argued that soviet ideology. Kennan by john lewis gaddis that won the 2012 pulitzer prize for biography or autobiography describes this as an engaging portrait of a globetrotting diplomat whose complicated life was interwoven with the cold war and americas emergence as the worlds dominant power. He lectured widely and wrote scholarly histories of the relations between the ussr and the united states. An american life paperback august 28, 2012 by john lewis gaddis author. An american life, bids fair to be as close to the final word as possible on one of the most important, complex, moving, challenging and exasperating. These letters show kennans fear of the extent to which the united states misunderstood the soviet regime.
His books include at a centurys ending and an american family. George frost kennan february 16, 1904 march 17, 2005 was an american diplomat and. Kennans american diplomacy has been a standard work on american foreign policy. Kennan 19042005 was an american diplomat, political scientist and historian. Widely and enthusiastically acclaimed, this is the authorized, definitive biography of one of the most fascinating but troubled figures of the twentieth century by the nations leading cold war historian. We personally assess every books quality and offer rare, outofprint treasures. In 1864 he made the first of his journeys to east asia as an engineer. Dec 29, 2011 gaddis, a cold war scholar at yale university and prizewinning author of several books on the subject, has provided an important, if not indispensable biography of kennan in george f. Kennan was a remarkable man who was once the american ambassador to both russia and germany before, after, and during the two world wars. Mar 12, 2020 winner of the 2012 pulitzer prize in biographywidely and enthusiastically acclaimed, this is the authorized, definitive biography of one of the most fascinating but troubled figures of the twentieth century by the nations leading cold war historian. One senses that kennan himself, at his best a bold truthteller, would have been pleased. Thriftbooks sells millions of used books at the lowest everyday prices.
Kennan, a man many consider the most influential u. George frost kennan, ne a milwaukee wisconsin le 16 fevrier 1904 et mort a princeton new. Kennan has 40 books on goodreads with 5535 ratings. Kennan, including american diplomacy, and memoirs 19501963, and more on. No one is better suited than gaddis to write this authorized biography of george f. The lectures present lessons kennan derived from his studies andor personnel experience in selected episodes of us diplomatic history from the spanishamerican war through the cold war. An american life, bids fair to be as close to the final word as possible on one of the most important, complex, moving, challenging and. An american life 1st edition by gaddis, john lewis isbn. Kennan and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at.
Especially in 1944, at the time of the russians betrayal of the warsaw uprising, it became evident that the soviets were interested in establishing their rigid domination of eastern and central. Kennan later became a historian and outspoken critic of u. This letter is being typed by ninetyfouryearold fingers, in a seaside cottage here in norway, on an ancient royal typewriter that the cottage turned out to be harboring. He later wrote standard histories of the relations between russia and the western powers.
John lukacs university of pennsylvania press, 2010 ps primary source a primary source is a work that is being studied, or that provides firsthand or direct evidence on a. Drawing on his considerable diplomatic experience and expertise, kennan offers an overview and critique of the foreign policy of an emerging great power whose claims to rightness often spill over into selfrighteousness, whose ambitions conflict with power realities, whose. Kennan, in full george frost kennan, born february 16, 1904, milwaukee, wisconsin, u. Kennans cousin twice removed, with whom he shared his birthday. He is best known for his role in shaping us foreign. Drawing on extensive interviews with george kennan and exclusive access to his archives, an eminent scholar of the cold war delivers a revelatory biography of its troubled mastermind. George f kennan and the origins of containment 1944 1946 book summary. Aug 28, 2012 professor gaddis teaches courses on cold war history, grand strategy, international studies, and biography. An american life, the cold war historian john lewis gaddis reveals the author of the containment doctrine, which governed united states foreign policy for a half. In the late 1940s, george kennan wrote two documents, the long telegram and the x article, which set forward the strategy of containment that would define us. Winner of the 2012 pulitzer prize in biographywidely and enthusiastically acclaimed, this is the authorized, definitive biography of one of the most fascinating but troubled figures of the twentieth century by the nations leading cold war historian. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read george f. July 28, 1998 professor gordon craig menlo park, california dear gordon.