Theodore Roosevelt. A man known for many things. From big time hunter, to rancher, to political figure, Mr. Roosevelt approached each endeavour with every ounce of passion and enthusiasm he had. This is the story of his life.

I will be the first to admit, I only knew a little bit about the 26th president of the US when I first picked up this book. It was interesting to read an account of his life, starting when he was a young boy afflicted by asthma up through to his death in 1919. Presented as Mr. Roosevelt reminiscing about his life, the author gives what he thinks the man’s thoughts would have been.

It did take me a while to get used to how the book is presented. It felt like many scenes of Roosevelt’s life that are loosely stitched together. So the important parts of his life are shared, but there are some gaps in between these parts. At times, this format makes it feels like there is something missing in the story.

Overall, this was interesting to read and I feel like I learned a lot. I would recommend this to those who want to learn more about Theodore Roosevelt, but are intimidated by biographies.

I received a free copy via NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. ( )

I will admit that going into this book I new very little about Theodore Roosevelt – the basics really, nothing more than one might learn in school or pick up here and there by reading a bit now and then. I’d never really delved into a book fiction or non that focused solely on this great man.

Until now.

Mr. Shaara is talented writer and obviously the topic of his book had quite the story to tell. So be prepared for an informative, entertaining, hard to put down novel detailing the life of our 26th President.

When one thinks of Teddy Roosevelt one tends to think of an explorer, a “man’s man”, a tough guy for sure. What I didn’t know is that he suffered from asthma as a child and it left him sometimes feeling an outsider in his own family as his father felt it a failing somehow. As if!

But it certainly didn’t stop him, did it? For this is the man who seemingly did it all. He traveled out West before it was an easy thing to do. He had a bison ranch – although that did not fare so well. Nor did his first marriage but the second one thrived.

It was after his forays out West and with his second wife that he embarked upon his political career and as we know that is where his true mark was made. New York politics led the way and then he was Mr. President for two terms that led to some major changes in the country.

The book details Mr. Roosevelt’s life from its humble beginnings to its end all with honesty and the honor it deserves.

I was sent a free copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ( )

Theodore Roosevelt was an icon in American History. He was charismatic and intelligent. This novel spans his early life with his first wife, Alice, to the Badlands and the Spanish-American war all the way to the Roosevelt’s last breath.

I learned so much about Theodore Roosevelt in this novel. It covers so many aspects of Roosevelt’s life and in such great detail. The author and the narrator brought Roosevelt to life for me. I honestly did not know half of what this man did. Now, did he make mistakes and misjudgments, sure he did. He is human. And the author portrays all of this, Roosevelt’s faults and his great deeds!

The reason for the 4 stars is this novel can get a little dry In places and it is very long. But, that is because it is so very well researched.

The narrator, Paul Michael, is on if my favorites and he sounded just like I expected Theodore Roosevelt to sound. A job well done!

Need a very good novel about a true American…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review. ( )

Jeff Shaara once again demonstrates why he is a best selling author in this account of the life of Theodore Roosevelt. Although identified as fiction due to the use of dialog and the technique of viewing events from Roosevelt’s POV, it is well researched and based in fact. The reader is privvy to a comprehensive view of Roosevelt, his many interests and accomplishments, along with his tenacious personality.

Shaara is a great story teller; there is considerable information to share and it is covered at a good pace. There is so much to Roosevelt’s life besides the political. The reader sees his interest in wild life, cattle ranching in the Badlands, leading the Rough Riders in Cuba in the Spanish American War, exploring a tributary of the Amazon in Brazil. Most notable are the realistic depictions of the west of the late 1800s and the rough and tumble political machinations in the late 1800s-early 1900s. I loved how Shaara captured the rhythm of Roosevelt’s bombastic character, speech and actions. ( )

Theodore Roosevelt was a very interesting person. Maybe not always as politically correct or cautious or present as he should have been, but always a subject of great fascination in the history books. “Bully!” and “Dee-lighted!” have become part of our language, and “The Rough Riders” calls forth pictures of that robust, rotund man on horseback, wearing his carefully put together outfit, that big toothy grin on his face. You wouldn’t think it was possible, but author Jeff Shaara makes “Teedie” even more fascinating in his novel The Old Lion.

The book begins in about 1868 when Roosevelt is about nine years old. He’s weak, sickly, already feels he’s a failure to his father. His father believes he needs to be built up and built strong and they embark on a careful, rigid, disciplined program to increase his strength and endurance, improve his health and hopefully do something about that darn asthma that plagues the young boy. The determination this young boy displays remains throughout his entire life. The story then jumps back in forth in time, highlighting significant events and milestones in Roosevelt’s life. It’s well done and easy to follow and reminded me a bit of the way James Cagney told the life story of James M. Cohan in “Yankee Doodle Dandy” – it’s a life we can read about in the history books but the method of telling makes it all the more interesting.

The Old Lion has a feel of truth to it, truth made larger than life by Roosevelt’s larger-than-life personality. Roosevelt wanted to go everywhere and do everything, and he nearly did. Raised in society, attended the best college, wrote volumes, tried his hand at cattle ranching, led men and fought in war, made his mark in politics on both the local and national levels. Married the love of his life and lost her when still a young man. Married the next love of his life, built a home, raised a family.

Teddy Roosevelt wasn’t always the role model and hero he is sometimes made out to be, and author Shaara does a wonderful job of presenting him as just a person, a man with shortcomings, fears he worked very hard to tamp down and hide, reckless, inconsiderate, just a man. He willingly acceded to the structure and strictures of the society he was raised in, thought nothing of absenting himself for months on end for a project dear to his heart that he had determined he must do, abandoned the care of his infant daughter to his sister because she reminded him too much of his lost wife, rarely followed orders, took risks, was willful – all those things, but again always fascinating and presented as such by Shaara. I smiled every time Roosevelt said, “My Godfrey!”

Thanks to St. Martin’s press for providing an advance copy of The Old Lion via NetGalley for my reading pleasure and honest review. It was a compelling read, well written, easy to follow and had me turning pages; I enjoyed it and recommend it without hesitation. I voluntarily leave this review and all opinions are my own. ( )