The Adventures of Theodore Roosevelt

Book excerpt: 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.