The Life and Times of Charles R. Crane, 1858â1939: American Businessman, Philanthropist, and a Founder of Russian Studies in America
The Life and Times of Charles R. Crane, 1858â1939: American Businessman, Philanthropist, and a Founder of Russian Studies in America
Overview
Norman E. Saul’s thoroughly documented book attempts to bring together the dispersed strands of this restless man’s life and passions. This is by no means an easy undertaking...As one reads Saul’s account, it is impossible not to be impressed by the sheer number of Crane’s journeys as well as the variety of their itineraries....Saul undertook a daunting task, [with] his editorial decision to tread lightly and give Crane the benefit of the doubt allows him to present a largely empathetic portrayal that will ultimately be appreciated by those who want to see Crane in his complexity. Saul’s book brings us several steps closer to understanding Crane and in the process offers a new perspective on the operations of early twentieth-century diplomacy and the origins of Russian Studies in the United States.(The Russian Review)Norman E. Saul is a serious scholar. . . . Saul’s scholarship has been characterized by detailed accounts backed by extensive research. ... Saul is to be congratulated for delivering a very interesting account of Crane’s life during America’s emergence as a world power.(The Journal of American History)While being the first and brilliant biography of Charles R. Crane, the new Norman Saul’s book is also a biography of American society and Russian-American relations in the decades when the United States emerged as a world power.(Victoria I. Zhuravleva, Russian State University for the Humanities)Charles R. Crane is a pivotal, controversial, colorful— and until now, mostly overlooked—figure in the 1880s to 1930s U.S. rise to world power. Norman Saul, exploiting newly available letters and documents, has finally given us a major biography that deals with (among the many obsessions of a full life), Crane’s Gilded Age financial power; significant diplomatic experiences with the Chinese and Russian revolutions; anti-Semitism; initial American dealings with the oil-rich Saudis; direct involvement with Woodrow Wilson’s failure to find a long-lasting peace; and even the beginnings of Russian studies in U.S. universities. Professor Saul’s work should reopen important questioning of some historic issues that most have thought settled.(Walter LaFeber)Charles R. Crane received minimal formal education, however, he became instrumental in developing Russian studies in the US and helped reconstruct the remains of the ancient Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian, and Chinese Empires after the First World War. His life personifies America’s rise from the status of a provincial country to a world power. This book is rich in details both of Crane’s personal life and of the US relations with the Central Europe, Russia, China and other remote lands in the late 19th- and first quarter of the 20thCentury. I recommend it for those who want to understand the circumstances of the US entering international affairs, the sources of its policies toward Central Europe, Middle East or Russia, or to learn about the career of a person who confidently faced the end of the old world and helped design a new one.(Ivan Kurilla, Volgograd State University)Description
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- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
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- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
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You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
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Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
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Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
Overview
Norman E. Saul’s thoroughly documented book attempts to bring together the dispersed strands of this restless man’s life and passions. This is by no means an easy undertaking...As one reads Saul’s account, it is impossible not to be impressed by the sheer number of Crane’s journeys as well as the variety of their itineraries....Saul undertook a daunting task, [with] his editorial decision to tread lightly and give Crane the benefit of the doubt allows him to present a largely empathetic portrayal that will ultimately be appreciated by those who want to see Crane in his complexity. Saul’s book brings us several steps closer to understanding Crane and in the process offers a new perspective on the operations of early twentieth-century diplomacy and the origins of Russian Studies in the United States.(The Russian Review)Norman E. Saul is a serious scholar. . . . Saul’s scholarship has been characterized by detailed accounts backed by extensive research. ... Saul is to be congratulated for delivering a very interesting account of Crane’s life during America’s emergence as a world power.(The Journal of American History)While being the first and brilliant biography of Charles R. Crane, the new Norman Saul’s book is also a biography of American society and Russian-American relations in the decades when the United States emerged as a world power.(Victoria I. Zhuravleva, Russian State University for the Humanities)Charles R. Crane is a pivotal, controversial, colorful— and until now, mostly overlooked—figure in the 1880s to 1930s U.S. rise to world power. Norman Saul, exploiting newly available letters and documents, has finally given us a major biography that deals with (among the many obsessions of a full life), Crane’s Gilded Age financial power; significant diplomatic experiences with the Chinese and Russian revolutions; anti-Semitism; initial American dealings with the oil-rich Saudis; direct involvement with Woodrow Wilson’s failure to find a long-lasting peace; and even the beginnings of Russian studies in U.S. universities. Professor Saul’s work should reopen important questioning of some historic issues that most have thought settled.(Walter LaFeber)Charles R. Crane received minimal formal education, however, he became instrumental in developing Russian studies in the US and helped reconstruct the remains of the ancient Austro-Hungarian, Ottoman, Russian, and Chinese Empires after the First World War. His life personifies America’s rise from the status of a provincial country to a world power. This book is rich in details both of Crane’s personal life and of the US relations with the Central Europe, Russia, China and other remote lands in the late 19th- and first quarter of the 20thCentury. I recommend it for those who want to understand the circumstances of the US entering international affairs, the sources of its policies toward Central Europe, Middle East or Russia, or to learn about the career of a person who confidently faced the end of the old world and helped design a new one.(Ivan Kurilla, Volgograd State University)Description
Condition Guidelines
Books - New and Used
The following guidelines apply to books:
- New: A brand-new copy with cover and original protective wrapping intact. Books with markings of any kind on the cover or pages, books marked as "Bargain" or "Remainder," or with any other labels attached, may not be listed as New condition.
- Used - Good: All pages and cover are intact (including the dust cover, if applicable). Spine may show signs of wear. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting. May include "From the library of" labels. Shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Item may be missing bundled media.
- Used - Acceptable: All pages and the cover are intact, but shrink wrap, dust covers, or boxed set case may be missing. Pages may include limited notes, highlighting, or minor water damage but the text is readable. Item may but the dust cover may be missing. Pages may include limited notes and highlighting, but the text cannot be obscured or unreadable.
Note: Some electronic material access codes are valid only for one user. For this reason, used books, including books listed in the Used – Like New condition, may not come with functional electronic material access codes.
Shipping & Delivery
Shipping Fees
- Stevens Books offers FREE SHIPPING everywhere in the United States for ALL non-book orders, and $3.99 for each book.
- Packages are shipped from Monday to Friday.
- No additional fees and charges.
Delivery Times
The usual time for processing an order is 24 hours (1 business day), but may vary depending on the availability of products ordered. This period excludes delivery times, which depend on your geographic location.
Estimated delivery times:
- Standard Shipping: 5-8 business days
- Expedited Shipping: 3-5 business days
Shipping method varies depending on what is being shipped.
Tracking
All orders are shipped with a tracking number. Once your order has left our warehouse, a confirmation e-mail with a tracking number will be sent to you. You will be able to track your package at all times.
Damaged Parcel
If your package has been delivered in a PO Box, please note that we are not responsible for any damage that may result (consequences of extreme temperatures, theft, etc.).
If you have any questions regarding shipping or want to know about the status of an order, please contact us or email to support@stevensbooks.com.
Returns & Refunds
You may return most items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. It must also be in the original packaging.
Several types of goods are exempt from being returned. Perishable goods such as food, flowers, newspapers or magazines cannot be returned. We also do not accept products that are intimate or sanitary goods, hazardous materials, or flammable liquids or gases.
Additional non-returnable items:
- Gift cards
- Downloadable software products
- Some health and personal care items
To complete your return, we require a tracking number, which shows the items which you already returned to us.
There are certain situations where only partial refunds are granted (if applicable)
- Book with obvious signs of use
- CD, DVD, VHS tape, software, video game, cassette tape, or vinyl record that has been opened
- Any item not in its original condition, is damaged or missing parts for reasons not due to our error
- Any item that is returned more than 30 days after delivery
Items returned to us as a result of our error will receive a full refund,some returns may be subject to a restocking fee of 7% of the total item price, please contact a customer care team member to see if your return is subject. Returns that arrived on time and were as described are subject to a restocking fee.
Items returned to us that were not the result of our error, including items returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address, will be refunded the original item price less our standard restocking fees.
If the item is returned to us for any of the following reasons, a 15% restocking fee will be applied to your refund total and you will be asked to pay for return shipping:
- Item(s) no longer needed or wanted.
- Item(s) returned to us due to an invalid or incomplete address.
- Item(s) returned to us that were not a result of our error.
You should expect to receive your refund within four weeks of giving your package to the return shipper, however, in many cases you will receive a refund more quickly. This time period includes the transit time for us to receive your return from the shipper (5 to 10 business days), the time it takes us to process your return once we receive it (3 to 5 business days), and the time it takes your bank to process our refund request (5 to 10 business days).
If you need to return an item, please Contact Us with your order number and details about the product you would like to return. We will respond quickly with instructions for how to return items from your order.
Shipping Cost
We'll pay the return shipping costs if the return is a result of our error (you received an incorrect or defective item, etc.). In other cases, you will be responsible for paying for your own shipping costs for returning your item. Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund.
Depending on where you live, the time it may take for your exchanged product to reach you, may vary.
If you are shipping an item over $75, you should consider using a trackable shipping service or purchasing shipping insurance. We don’t guarantee that we will receive your returned item.
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