Everything about A Message To Garcia totally explained
A Message to Garcia is an inspirational
essay written by
Elbert Hubbard that has been made into two
motion pictures. It was originally published as a filler without a title in the March, 1899 issue of the
Philistine magazine which he edited, but was quickly reprinted as a pamphlet and a book. It was wildly popular, selling over 40 million copies, and being translated into 37 languages. It also became a well-known allusion in American popular and
business culture until the middle of the twentieth century.
Setting and reception
The essay celebrates the initiative of a soldier who is assigned and accomplishes a daunting mission. He asks no questions, makes no objections, requests no help, but accomplishes the mission. The essay exhorts the reader to apply this attitude to his own life as an avenue to success. Its wide popularity reflected the general appeal of self-reliance and energetic problem solving in American culture. Its "don't ask questions, get the job done" message was often used by business leaders as a motivational message to their employees.
It was given to every
U.S. Navy enlistee and
U.S. Marine in both world wars, and often memorized by schoolchildren. A re-translation of it was published, however perhaps in parody of the Japanese during the thirties. It is estimated to be one of the highest-selling books in history, essentially due to American employers purchasing copies
in bulk to distribute to their employees.
The historical setting of the essay was the onset of the
Spanish-American War in 1898. As the American army prepared to invade the
Spanish colony of
Cuba, they wished to contact the leader of the Cuban insurgents who controlled the plains of the Cauto to coordinate or at least prevent conflicting strategies. This was
Calixto García e Iñiguez, who had been fighting the Spanish for Cuban independence since the
Ten Years' War of 1868–78, and sought the help of the
United States. He was then residing in the city of
Bayamo. The American officer was
Andrew Summers Rowan, a
West Point graduate of 1881.
This "enlightened, inspirational" interpretation prevails today, despite the fact Rowan was hidden by Cuban rebels in
Jamaica before his being taken to Cuba; was met by 200 cavalry and delivered to Garcia; was held by the British quarantine in the Bahamas for ten days; and the sole immediate recognition he received was to be given combat command of a company of
U.S. Army "Immunes," who were
African American troops assumed to be immune to jungle diseases. The Immunes died as quickly as any troops once infected, in a brief war that killed more U.S. personnel by
malaria than by bullets.
In fact, "A Message to Garcia" may have been intended to embarrass Hubbard's son, Bert, into more responsible action at the
Philistine magazine and other elements of Hubbard's egalitarian gathering of artists and craftsmen in
East Aurora, New York.
Elbert Hubbard died with the sinking of the
RMS Lusitania in 1915, en route with his wife to
England and
Berlin on a mission to encourage an end of war. He was optimistic in this endeavor, despite a notice in the
New York Times warning that vessels flying the flag of Great Britain, or any of her allies, could be sunk.
Major Andrew Rowan died obscurely in the
Presidio of San Francisco. It was 22 years before the Army decorated him for this mission.
Films
A Message to Garcia was first made into a motion picture in
1916 by
Thomas A. Edison Inc.. The
silent film was directed by
Richard Ridgely and starred
Mabel Trunnelle,
Robert Conness, and
Charles Sutton as Garcia.
A
1936 talkie was made by
Twentieth Century Fox that was directed by
George Marshall and featured
Wallace Beery,
Barbara Stanwyck,
John Boles,
Alan Hale,
Herbert Mundin,
Mona Barrie, and
Enrique Acosta as Garcia.
Other media
The radio show
Suspense broadcast a 30-minute adaptation with the same title on
September 14,
1953. It starred
Richard Widmark as Rowan.
Further Information
Get more info on 'A Message To Garcia'.
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