Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for the ALC and Simon Books #partner, for the finished copy of The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Simon and Schuster / Simon & Schuster ALC
Published: May 7, 2024
Summary:
A spirited and poignant family love story, revealing how an icon of rugged American masculinity was profoundly shaped by the women in his life, especially his mother, sisters, and wives.
Theodore Roosevelt wrote in his senior thesis for Harvard in 1880 that women ought to be paid equal to men and have the option of keeping their maiden names upon marriage. It’s little surprise he’d be a feminist, given the women he grew up with.
His mother, Mittie, was witty and decisive, a Southern belle raising four young children in New York while her husband spent long stretches away with the Union Army. Theodore’s college sweetheart and first wife, Alice—so vivacious she was known as Sunshine—steered her beau away from science (he’d roam campus with taxidermy specimen in his pockets) and towards politics. Older sister Bamie would soon become her brother’s key political strategist and advisor; journalists called her Washington, DC, home “the little White House.” Younger sister Conie served as her brother’s press secretary before the role existed, slipping stories of his heroics in Cuba and his rambunctious home life to reporters to create the legend of the Rough Rider we remember today. And Edith—Theodore’s childhood playmate and second wife—would elevate the role of presidential spouse to an American institution, curating both the White House and her husband’s legacy.
A dazzling and lyrical look at one America’s most significant presidents as we’ve never seen him before, The Loves of Theodore Roosevelt celebrates five extraordinary yet unsung women who opened the door to the American Century and pushed Theodore Roosevelt through it.
My thoughts:
As soon as I saw this book, I knew I had to read it. I’m a huge fan of anything related to the Roosevelts, especially Teddy Roosevelt and I loved that this book in particular focused on the women who had an impact in his life. I love going deep into the lives of those who shape our leaders and this one ended up being just as fascinating and insightful as I hoped!
This book focuses on the strong women that Theodore Roosevelt was lucky to have in his life and how they helped shape him to be the man he ultimately ended up becoming. We learn a bit about his mother, Mittie; his first love and wife, Alice; his older sister, Bamie; his younger sister, Conie; and his second wife, Edith. I had come into this book already knowing a bit about Alice, having already read a historical fiction book about Teddy and her love, which I really loved. The other women I had a passing knowledge of and loved learning more about them. And I loved how Teddy wasn’t afraid to lean on these women, especially his sisters, when he was running for office or in office.
This book was very readable and engaging. It also has me wanting to do deep dives on each of the women themselves, which I love! I’m so glad to have this one in my collection…and I highly recommend picking it up!
Audio thoughts:
I love listening to nonfiction and I love when the author is able to narrate them. In this case, the author was able to effectively tell the story just the way he wanted. And the bonus content included at the end, the Roosevelt family recordings, was a cool bonus!
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