Who can resist that pulp fiction era cover art, reserved for stories about daredevil heroes?
Yes--That is Teddy Roosevelt, our 25th president, dressed in his Brooks Brothers uniform, custom-made for his fantasy-come-true chance to play at war on San Juan's hills, his sidekick mascot cougar at his side!
I can't think of any other president so deserving of action hero fame, for TR's life was made up of Big Moments that prove that fact truly is stranger than fiction.
And Jerome Charyon's The Perilous Adventures of the Cowboy King takes readers on a thrill ride of TR's early life.
Born wealthy, son of a veritable saint nicknamed Great Heart, and brother to a self-destructive sybarite. Became a boy state assemblyman, taking on the corrupt New York party machine. Married for love; lost her and his beloved mother on the SAME DAY. Ran off to the Wild West to work himself into oblivion, facing bad guys and evil Pinkertons. Left little Alice to his sister to raise until, returning home, he reencounters his childhood sweetheart Edith and realizes he has to marry her.
Our hero reenters NYC politics, again goes up against corruption, becoming a royal pain so the politicos send him packing to Washington, DC to be Secretary of the Navy. TR pushes for war in Cuba against the Spaniards, cobbles together a ragtag group nicknamed the Rough Riders who become media darlings. Ignored and maligned, after much suffering and victory, the hero of San Juan Hill is made NY State Governor. Again becoming a royal pain, he is pressured to be McKinley's VP where he, like every other VP, except perhaps Al Gore, rots away. And then Garfield is assassinated.
That's just the first part of TR's life.
You can read any one of several marvelous biographies, many thousands of pages have been written about him. Or...you could... go on a jaunt under Jerome Charyn's capable hands and meet the Cowboy King in his own voice. Or do both. Read the scholarly bios, but don't miss the chance to meet Teddy The Cowboy King. It's a rollicking good ride.
I received a free ebook from the publisher in exchange for a fair and unbiased review.
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| President Roosevelt from The Presidents Quilt Design by Michael J. Buckingham, Quilt by Nancy A. Bekofske |
The Perilous Adventures of the Cowboy King: A Novel of Teddy Roosevelt and His Times
by Jerome Charyn
W. W. Norton & Company
Pub Date 08 Jan 2019
ISBN 9781631493874
PRICE $26.95 (USD)
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| The Presidents Quilt made by Nancy A. Bekofske |
Dear Nancy: This piece is a complete joy to read, from ya-ha-haw" to "rollicking good ride," you gave me as much pleasure as reading Jerome Charyn's novel, and that's a lot! Your incredible quilt tops off the experience to perfection. Authors like Jerome Charyn are lucky to have you - your humor, insight and blogging talent brings a book like this what it longs for and deserves, readers! This goes on our Facebook page right now and I hope to see it reprinted everywhere that readers go to find that perfect book for them. Thank you from Jerome Charyn and me, Lenore Riegel (his partner.)
ReplyDeleteI really liked your President's Quilt. It goes so well with your book review.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shasta!
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