A review by zakcebulski
T. R.: The Last Romantic by H.W. Brands

challenging emotional informative reflective relaxing slow-paced

4.5

This was my first read of anything by H.W. Brands. I found this book absolutely fantastic. 
From the point of view of U.S. Presidents, I find that when I think of my favorite, or, the one I think is most fascinating, it is always T.R. Theodore Roosevelt. 
To me, this man was truly the epitome of larger than life. He lived more lives than 10 people in his 60 years on this planet. Reading through so much of his life was immensely enlightening and informative. 

This biography is an absolute masterclass in the major plot points which made T.R. who he was. Though Brands does not delve in to the minute of his life too much- this book is already over 900 pages long- he still describes the man's life in a very well told way. I think that the small pockets of writings from T.R. directly really help to illustrate him as he grows and were a fantastic inclusion to this read. Reading them, coupled with Brands' amazing talent for writing, help to convey the feelings which T.R. was feeling at the time- whether it be elation, sorrow, happiness, heartbreak, bleakness, rage, disgust- all are painted to the reader in such a way that those more empathetic people may feel the emotions themselves. 

This is a story of a hyper-complex man. A man who had many sides to him, who had beliefs that would surely, without question, clash with the beliefs of today's political and social climate. What I must commend him for is his sticking to his diction. When T.R. said he was going to do something, he did it, or, he gave his best effort to do so. 
He certainly made mistakes, the Brownsville Affair, his pathological pursuit of war, his ego trip that led the U.S. to being given Woodrow Wilson- these are all things that would be a stain on any politician's record. And, what I appreciate most about reading this biography, is that Brands does not shy away from these things. Nor does he uplift the good things that T.R. did- his immense work with conservation, the Panama Canal, strengthening relations with Japan (and his for the time very progressive view of Asian countries), building up the Navy. I think Brands strikes an absolutely perfect field of... neutrality- of objectivity. He presents the facts and that is all, he does not inject in his opinion on anything. This, I feel, is very difficult to do well, and I think that Brands knocks it out of the park. 

It is hard for me to write about this book because I feel myself wanting to comment on the events of T.R's life in a way that would impact the rating of this book. So, I will not do that. I will rather comment that I think that this book was absolutely astounding and one which I feel has led me to want to read more work from H.W. Brands.