(Originally published 2010, Paperback edition 570 pages)
Theodore Roosevelt walked away from what easily could have been a third term as
President of the United States. With his type-A personality, there was nothing
short of death that was going to keep him from making waves in whatever he did.
Mr. Morris' third volume is an excellent finale to a colorful man. The 26th
President quickly left Washington D.C. for a hunting/exploration African safari.
The author does a fine job describing how Roosevelt's numerous articles written
and published while he was out killing oodles of lions, giraffes, hippos,
monkeys... heck, basically anything that had a heartbeat made him even more
popular. He may have been a retired president, but the friggin' guy couldn't
swing a dead monkey without hitting some foreign dignitary wanting some of his
time.
After traveling around Europe, he returned stateside and, as usual, found others lacking the "right" qualities to be in leadership positions. His outsized ego is on full display as he takes it upon himself to usurp President Taft and then start the famous Bull Moose Party in a huff about being outmaneuvered at the 1912 GOP convention. The book also covers in detail the assassination attempt by John Schrank and how the seriously wounded Roosevelt remarkably continued campaigning despite having a bullet in his chest as well as bleeding heavily. After the election, the story continues with his perilious journey into the Brazilian jungle which almost killed him. (Note: A more detailed account can be found in Candice Millard's outstanding book "River of Doubt.") The remaining portion of the book deals with his being an irritant to President Wilson and pushing for us to enter World War One in a time when most Americans were isolationists.
Mr. Morris' colorful prose are a good fit for arguably our most colorful president. I was amazed that the old, fat, lame coot was still itching to lead men into battle in Europe even though he would have been clearly in over his head. The Rough Rider loved war for war's sake and he dearly pays the price by forcing his four sons to get into the fray. I read all three volumes in succession and found the two previous works helped to understand why Theodore Roosevelt acted the way he did in his later years. There is much to admire and hate about the man. The three paperback books entail 1,866 pages. It is a well-researched, entertaining work that gives a balanced portrayal of our 26th President, but Lordy, Lordy it's a loooooong read.
After traveling around Europe, he returned stateside and, as usual, found others lacking the "right" qualities to be in leadership positions. His outsized ego is on full display as he takes it upon himself to usurp President Taft and then start the famous Bull Moose Party in a huff about being outmaneuvered at the 1912 GOP convention. The book also covers in detail the assassination attempt by John Schrank and how the seriously wounded Roosevelt remarkably continued campaigning despite having a bullet in his chest as well as bleeding heavily. After the election, the story continues with his perilious journey into the Brazilian jungle which almost killed him. (Note: A more detailed account can be found in Candice Millard's outstanding book "River of Doubt.") The remaining portion of the book deals with his being an irritant to President Wilson and pushing for us to enter World War One in a time when most Americans were isolationists.
Mr. Morris' colorful prose are a good fit for arguably our most colorful president. I was amazed that the old, fat, lame coot was still itching to lead men into battle in Europe even though he would have been clearly in over his head. The Rough Rider loved war for war's sake and he dearly pays the price by forcing his four sons to get into the fray. I read all three volumes in succession and found the two previous works helped to understand why Theodore Roosevelt acted the way he did in his later years. There is much to admire and hate about the man. The three paperback books entail 1,866 pages. It is a well-researched, entertaining work that gives a balanced portrayal of our 26th President, but Lordy, Lordy it's a loooooong read.
Meyers - A few years ago, I
started writing, under the pseudonym Franklin the Mouse, short
reviews at Amazon's web site. This is my most recent review #315)
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