Empire by default

the long version

Empire by Default is considered (as of 2012) the definitive work on the Spanish-American War. A huge book, it starts in the 1860s and leads the reader through the causes of the war in 1898, the war itself and its effects. It is basically a synthesis of research as of its publication in 1998, including very little original research. It is dense and chock-full of information but sometimes a chore to read.