One World (book)

First edition (publ. Simon & Schuster)

One World is a travelogue written by Wendell Willkie, a liberal Republican, and originally published in 1943.

Content of the book

It is a document of his world travels and meetings with many of the Allies' heads of state as well as ordinary citizens and soldiers in locales such as El Alamein, Russia, and Iran. Willkie also discusses the need for some sort of world government.[1]

Especially emphasized is the position of China in the world after World War II; involved in a civil war between Nationalists and Communists, Willkie prophesies that whichever power achieves victory will make China a force to be reckoned with. It is the duty of the United Nations (the Allies[note 1]) to make sure that the power is friendly to American and other Allied interests but also that it is powerful enough to help the Chinese, the world's most populated nation.

Popularity

One World was highly popular in its time and sold millions of copies. It spent four months atop the New York Times bestseller list beginning in May 1943.[2]

Notes

  1. ↑ Before the United Nations Organization was founded in 1945, the term "United Nations" had been in use since 1942 as a synonym for the Allies.

References

  1. ↑ Campbell Craig 'The Resurgent Idea of World Government', Ethics & International Affairs, Volume 22, Issue 2, Date: Summer 2008, Pages: 133-142.
  2. ↑ John Bear, The #1 New York Times Best Seller: intriguing facts about the 484 books that have been #1 New York Times bestsellers since the first list, 50 years ago, Berkeley: Ten Speed Press, 1992, p. 8.
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