The Adventures of Theodore Roosevelt

Book Overview

Explorer. Adventurer. Naturalist. Hunter. Historian. Colonel. Conservationist. "You cannot sum Theodore Roosevelt up," writes Anthony Brandt in the introduction to this treasure of adventure tales of the twenty-sixth president of the United States, "you can only stand in awe of him." From capturing cattle thieves in the American West to charging San Juan Hill to tracking lions in Africa, Theodore Roosevelt's thirst for adventure races through each of the selections in this marvelous narrative history, shedding light on a sickly boy who embraced "the strenuous life" wholeheartedly and became a legendary outdoorsman. Arranged chronologically, these accounts of Roosevelt's adventures trace the rise of one of the most unforgettable characters in our nation's history from his days as a cattle rancher in Montana to governor of New York to the White House and beyond. Among his many talents, Theodore Roosevelt was a gifted storyteller, and the selections in this book brilliantly showcase his most vivid writing. Adventure historian Anthony Brandt deftly sets the selections in context, explaining the personal and political settings of incidents from the creation of the "teddy bear" legend to Roosevelt's harrowing ordeal on Brazil's River of Doubt. National Geographic Adventure Classics is a series that celebrates the "100 greatest adventure books of all time," as compiled by a panel of experts for National Geographic Adventure. These titles have been carefully selected for their adrenaline quotient and their status as classics of the adventure genre.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0792293460
• ISBN13: 9780792293460
• Release Date: May 2005
• Publisher: National Geographic Society
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Didn’t know what to expect — surprised me!

Something I did not expect when picking up this book was how good of a writer Theodore Roosevelt was! His descriptions of the landscapes have a surprisingly eloquent flow, where in few words he manages to paint these vivid pictures. Sometimes with writers from the late 19th/early 20th century, there’s a tendency to get bogged down by heavy writing, but Roosevelt managed to evade that and keep his writing fast-paced. Out of everything in the book, that is what struck me the most. The adventures he went on do make you want to get outside in nature more and experience the outdoors for yourself.