Abstract This paper reviews "The Banana Men" (Lester Langley and Thomas Schoonover) which delivers an account of American involvement and goals of imperialism in Central America during the late 19th and early twentieth century. The book describes the operations of U.S. politicians seeking relief from the pre-depression era in the economy of Central America. The paper shows that highlighted in the tale of "The Banana Men" are the nations of Honduras and Nicaragua, including the struggles each nation experienced during the time. The paper looks at how the book explains how Langley and Schoonover elaborate on America's goals of imperialism in Central America during the early 1900s and focus on the plights of individuals affected by such actions. Much rebellion and violent political disruptions and battles occurred as a result of U.S. involvement and the actions of political dictators and mercenaries.
From the Paper "Lester Langley tells the story of the "Banana Men" through the eyes and ideas of many different people. The novel explores the mindset of fruit producing corporations in Central America, American entrepreneurs coming to Central America for prosperity and adventure and the autonomous Central American dictators that controlled the politics of the country. The work discusses the history and background of the countries Honduras and Nicaragua from the early 1880's to approximately 1930. The book does not elaborate on foreign affairs or American involvement of the politics of other Central American countries, perhaps limiting it's effectiveness in perspective. It does however reveal American interest in turning attention away from the receding economy within the borders of the U.S."
