An Autobiography

Few American presidents have captured the imagination in the way that Theodore Roosevelt has. Rough Rider and soldier, political reformer and no-nonsense statesman, prolific author and historian, rugged outdoorsman and pioneering conservationist, father of America’s national parks and of the Panama Canal — Roosevelt’s legacy is a complex and far-reaching one. This has sometimes made it difficult to separate the myth of Teddy Roosevelt from the reality.

Those in search of a balanced examination of the life and career of the USA’s 26th president won’t find it here. This account is autobiographical, authored by Roosevelt himself, and lacks the even-handed documentation many crave from historical texts. But for those seeking Roosevelt the man and keen to understand the president’s own reflections on his work, Autobiography of Theodore Roosevelt is a fascinating piece of writing.

The book was originally published in 1913, six years before Roosevelt’s death. Just one of 18 books authored by the president during his life, Autobiography of Theodore Roosevelt is characterized by the prose skill and analytical approach of an accomplished writer even if it does remain inherently flawed as an impartial historical source.