The Old Lion: A Novel of Theodore Roosevelt
Even those lovers of history who have read the many wonderful biographies of Theodore Roosevelt will enjoy Jeff Shaara’s novel, written from the point of view of Roosevelt himself. Shaara has focused on key moments and events in TR’s life, including the personal tragedies he faced, his time as a cattleman, his adventures in the Spanish-American War, and his dangerous trip to Brazil. Shaara divides the book into five parts, beginning each with a scene in the winter of 1918/1919 as TR lies on his deathbed in great pain, remembering both his victories and his limitations. Those limitations include his attitudes toward race, his ineptness with finances, and his tendency to prioritize his enthusiasms over the people around him.
Although Shaara often includes letters and documents from the historical record, he uses dialog and internal meditations—skillfully imagined—to drive the book forward, adding excellent and needed emotional texture to a well-known story. Although a few times Shaara adds more information in the dialog than is likely in daily speech—necessary to fill in the background for readers—on the whole the novel can serve as a case study for the power of dialog.
Readers will find no surprises in the plot of the novel, but they will come away with a greater understanding of Roosevelt and his place in history. Highly recommended for fans of historical fiction and those interested in the Gilded Age and Progressive Era.
