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The Read: The Theodore Roosevelt Trilogy, by Edmund Morris

October 1, 2012 By Ben Madeska | Heads up: Buying via our links may result in us getting a commission. Here's why.

The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt – $21.41 | Theodore Rex – $12.24 | Col. Roosevelt – $12.24

All by Edmund Morris.  Hardcover trilogy set available for $68

In his own time Theodore Roosevelt was called “the most interesting American” – an early biography even used that as the title.  He was an explorer, a hunter, a historian, a rancher, a soldier, New York City Police Commissioner, Assistant Secretary of the Navy, Governor of New York, Vice President of the United States, and, of course, President.  He explored an unknown Brazilian river that now bears his name, founded a new political party, won the Nobel Peace Prize, and posthumously received the Medal of Honor, the only US President to receive it.

Written over 30 years, these three volumes by Edmund Morris cover the entire life and times of Theodore Roosevelt and constitute one of the finest biographies available.  “The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt” covers his family history, his early years, and his first steps into politics.  The book ends with the assassination of President McKinley and the swearing in of Roosevelt as the 26th President. “Theodore Rex” covers the presidency itself (and is in fact not a novelization of the talking dinosaur/buddy cop movie starring Whoopi Goldberg).  The final ten years of his life, when he was the “most famous man in the world,” are described in “Colonel Roosevelt.”  This includes a harrowing account of an assassination attempt: “Maniac In Milwaukee Shoots Col. Roosevelt; He Ignores Wound, Speaks An Hour, Goes To Hospital” read the New York Times headline.

Morris is such a fine writer and Roosevelt such a captivating subject that even the most wonkish political details are compulsively readable.  The scope of Roosevelt’s accomplishments require Morris to often address the political issues of the day (you’re going to learn about the importance of tariff reciprocity with Canada to the Taft administration) but he also captures Roosevelt’s uninhibited, exuberant nature, such as his habit of galloping on horseback through parks while President, firing at tree stumps with his revolver.

Three books barely seem adequate to chart the life of Theodore Roosevelt.

Filed Under: Etc. Tagged With: The Read, Theodore Roosevelt

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Comments

  1. Cannon says

    October 1, 2012 at 2:35 AM

    I hadn’t heard of these books before, but I’m interested. Always a fan of book recommendations.

  2. Steve Pylypchuk says

    October 1, 2012 at 3:37 AM

    I couldn’t agree more. Books are well written and they just suck you in. Amazing story about an amazing man.

  3. Marshall Lilly says

    October 1, 2012 at 3:40 AM

    Absolutely spot on Ben. This trilogy is nothing short of a triumph of historical scholarship.

    And when you read these books while considering contemporary politics, it’s very clear that they broke the mold when they made Teddy. There’s a reason the man is on Mount Rushmore.

  4. Mike N says

    October 1, 2012 at 5:32 AM

    Great Books. Re: the river exploration – River of Doubt by Candace Millard is also a good read.

  5. LawDude says

    October 1, 2012 at 6:49 AM

    Amazing books. Best biographies I have read.

  6. kevind says

    October 1, 2012 at 7:23 AM

    Just ordered. Thanks!

  7. polemarchus25 says

    October 1, 2012 at 7:46 AM

    Glad you’re recommending this! I’m making my way through Colonel Roosevelt now. The Rise is by far my favorite, but all in all the trilogy makes for an incredible read. And Mike N, Millard’s book has been on my radar – I’ll be sure to read it.

  8. Blessings says

    October 1, 2012 at 8:08 AM

    Just a note. This series makes for excellent reading and creates a marvelous character out of Roosevelt. I enjoyed the hell out of all three books. There is no doubt that it has been thoroughly researched.

    However, Morris is somewhat liable to bend the truth in order to exaggerate and fictionalize for the sake of enhancing narrative. His biography of Ronald Reagan was extensively criticized due to this manner of writing. Although it is harder to fault Morris on his Roosevelt series due to historical distance, Morris’s style, while captivating to read, isn’t typically scholarly.

    This can be an advantage or disadvantage depending on what you expect from the series.

  9. David Khim says

    October 2, 2012 at 2:10 PM

    “The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt” was definitely one of the best biographies I’ve read. I felt as if I had lost a best friend after reading the last page.

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