Old Lion by Jeff Shaara is a well-written and engaging novel about the life of Theodore Roosevelt. Shaara does an excellent job of bringing Roosevelt to life, and the book is full of interesting anecdotes and insights into the man who was known as the "Bull Moose."

The novel is told in the form of a reflection back on his life as told by the dying Roosevelt himself to his biographer, Hermann Hagedorn. One of the things that makes Old Lion so enjoyable is Shaara's ability to capture Roosevelt's unique personality. Roosevelt was a complex man, and Shaara does a good job of showing his strengths and weaknesses. Roosevelt was a brilliant and charismatic leader, but he could also be arrogant and impulsive. In Shaara's telling, Roosevelt is aware of his flaws, but mostly regrets how they have affected his loved ones.

I appreciated the way that Shaara used Roosevelt's own words to tell the story. This gave the novel a sense of authenticity that I found very appealing. I also enjoyed the way that Shaara explored the relationships between Roosevelt and his family and friends. These relationships were complex and often challenging, but they were also essential to Roosevelt's success. Finally, I thought Shaara did a good job of capturing the spirit of the times in which Roosevelt lived. The late 19th and early 20th centuries were a time of great change and upheaval, and Roosevelt was a product of his time.

Old Lion is a well-written and informative novel about one of the most fascinating figures in American history. I highly recommend it.

Usually, I can read a book in a few days. This latest, however, had me enthralled for almost a week. Jeff Shaara's latest work of historic fiction, "The Old Lion: A Novel of Theodore Roosevelt" is about Teddy Roosevelt, and it is an excellent book. The book is historical fiction, not because the events are not true but because he has presented them in a way that Teddy is doing the telling of the story. It makes the book readable and entertaining, bringing his character to life.
In Shaara's book, Teddy Roosevelt tells us of the tragic loss of his first wife following the birth of his daughter Alice and his trip to the West to assuage his grief and follow his wandering spirit. He tells us of hIs return to civilization and second marriage to Edith with whom he had five children. It tells of his larger-than-life presence and his affinity for telling stories. It also told me something I did not know. Teddy Roosevelt was a Republican, Franklin Roosevelt's distant kin was a Democrat and they really were immensely different. Teddy Roosevelt assumed the office of the president following the tragic shooting of William McKinley. Roosevelt was only forty-two. He finished McKinley's term and ran once himself., then chose not to run for a third term. Roosevelt was a hunter but also a conservationist. He began the creation of National Parks and curtailed the monopolies that had arisen as part of the industrial revolution. He is etched on Mount McKinley with other great presidents. His legacy is far-reaching and his life is as large as his ebullient spirit.
You will enjoy this bit of history.

Such a compelling story of Theodore Roosevelt- a president known for being passionate and full of life. Although a work of fiction, it felt as real as the person it was written about. Intimately told and made him seem as normal as any man or woman in our lives. There were many aspects I did not know about him and appreciate the fact that the author done their research.

I have always been intrigued about Roosevelt and his life and this was the match the lit the fire to my interest of wanting to read more.

Thank you NetGalley and St.Martin's Press for the gifted copy.

Once again Jeff Shaara has written a wonderful historical fiction, this time of the great Teddy Roosevelt. At 467 pages, it is long enough to be a biography, but, as Shaara explains, he did not intend this novel to a comprehensive story about the President.

Shaara obviously did his research before setting out to dramatize the life of this fascinating man. He brings the reader into Roosevelt’s head. The result is that the reader comes away seeing Roosevelt for who he was and who he became. Shaara himself rates T.R. As one of the three greatest U.S. presidents (the others are Washington and Lincoln). It is easy to see why. Roosevelt is a “man’s man” and by the end of the book I wanted to learn more about him and his many exploits.

As with Shaara’s other books, you won’t be disappointed.

I wanted to read this book because it was a new release by Jeff Shaara, an author whose books I've enjoyed in the past. Even better, it centers on my favorite president, Theodore Roosevelt. Unfortunately, the book really fell flat for me.. Its pacing is slow; it uses a dual timeline framework, but the way that it moves between the past and present feels very random; the dialogue feels awkward and forced. I made it to the 30% mark before I decided that this isn't a book that I want to spend my time reading, when my reading time is currently very limited. I am rating it 3 stars because I didn't dislike the book and there's nothing particularly wrong with it, it just bored me and didn't feel like a good use of my time.

Thank you very much to the publisher for giving me the opportunity to read and review! It is always an honor to receive an ARC, even when the book doesn't click for me.

This book is perfect for anyone wanting to know a little about Teddy Roosevelt but not committing to massive volumes of nonfiction. Theodore is portrayed in this novel as the hero I think he was, but you also see the man that was obstinate, headstrong, and not afraid of anything but his wife and mother dying. I did both the ebook and the audio and I must say that the audio was my favorite. The narrator embodies the TR ambition and bull-mooseness of ole' Teddy himself. He also inserts some depression over the loss of his loved ones, and Quentin. All this to say, this book will take the reader through all the stages of Theodore's life quicker than nonfiction. There are some embellishments (because of the fiction part), and most importantly, to me, this voice gives TR a voice that I could really imagine him using in real life. This book was excellent and I highly recommend the audiobook.

Theodore Roosevelt was an icon in American History. He was charismatic and intelligent. This novel spans his early life with his first wife, Alice, to the Badlands and the Spanish-American war all the way to the Roosevelt’s last breath.

I learned so much about Theodore Roosevelt in this novel. It covers so many aspects of Roosevelt’s life and in such great detail. The author and the narrator brought Roosevelt to life for me. I honestly did not know half of what this man did. Now, did he make mistakes and misjudgments, sure he did. He is human. And the author portrays all of this, Roosevelt’s faults and his great deeds!

The reason for the 4 stars is this novel can get a little dry In places and it is very long. But, that is because it is so very well researched.

The narrator, Paul Michael, is on if my favorites and he sounded just like I expected Theodore Roosevelt to sound. A job well done!

Need a very good novel about a true American…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

I have always enjoyed biographies and this one was no exception. It takes one through the life of Theodore Roosevelt based on his letters, reminiscences at life’s end and an author’s view of him. The perspective and writing show a human Roosevelt and captures his charisma and lust for learning and exploration for an America that was truly new and exciting. This was a fantastic read.

Though this was the work of fiction, it read like an extremely entertaining biography. It was very detailed and very factual based on my knowledge of the life of Teddy Roosevelt, on whom I’ve read many other biographies. I really enjoyed this narrative, and the glimpse into what he might’ve been thinking during the different portions of his life. The layout and pacing was great, and I didn’t get bored once, even though it was lengthy. Highly recommend!

I have loved Theodore Roosevelt for the longest time, but this book deep-dives into his life - and brings the man that we see as a myth to life.
Theodore Roosevelt was a larger-than-life figure, but he was not always the rough-and-tumble man that we know from history.

Absolutely LOVED this book! It was a great read, and being able to take a deeper look into this enigmatic man was a treat. I highly recommend this book!

Jeff Shaara once again demonstrates why he is a best selling author in this account of the life of Theodore Roosevelt. Although identified as fiction due to the use of dialog and the technique of viewing events from Roosevelt’s POV, it is well researched and based in fact. The reader is privvy to a comprehensive view of Roosevelt, his many interests and accomplishments, along with his tenacious personality.

Shaara is a great story teller; there is considerable information to share and it is covered at a good pace. There is so much to Roosevelt’s life besides the political. The reader sees his interest in wild life, cattle ranching in the Badlands, leading the Rough Riders in Cuba in the Spanish American War, exploring a tributary of the Amazon in Brazil. Most notable are the realistic depictions of the west of the late 1800s and the rough and tumble political machinations in the late 1800s-early 1900s. I loved how Shaara captured the rhythm of Roosevelt’s bombastic character, speech and actions.

Theodore Roosevelt. A man known for many things. From big time hunter, to rancher, to political figure, Mr. Roosevelt approached each endeavour with every ounce of passion and enthusiasm he had. This is the story of his life.

I will be the first to admit, I only knew a little bit about the 26th president of the US when I first picked up this book. It was interesting to read an account of his life, starting when he was a young boy afflicted by asthma up through to his death in 1919. Presented as Mr. Roosevelt reminiscing about his life, the author gives what he thinks the man’s thoughts would have been.

It did take me a while to get used to how the book is presented. It felt like many scenes of Roosevelt’s life that are loosely stitched together. So the important parts of his life are shared, but there are some gaps in between these parts. At times, this format makes it feels like there is something missing in the story.

Overall, this was interesting to read and I feel like I learned a lot. I would recommend this to those who want to learn more about Theodore Roosevelt, but are intimidated by biographies.

The Old Lion
By Jeff Shaara

What makes a historical novel compelling is the amount of research that the author does to create a story based on facts. Shaara has written a number of books – both fiction and non-fiction – dealing with historical subjects: from the American Revolution to the Civil War to World War II. All have been built on a foundation of historical accuracy.

This book is about Theodore Roosevelt. Each segment is told from the point of view of Teddy – old, ill, on his deathbed. These are his reminiscences about the stages of his life – successes and failures, regrets and adventures.

What I like most about this book is what it taught me about Mr. Roosevelt. I did not know, for instance, that Teddy was a proponent of women's suffrage well before most men of his time. Teddy was a complex man. He was revered by many and hated by many. Above all, Mr. Shaara succeeds in showing the reader that, while a war hero, a fighter for workers' rights, a lover of the natural world, and an adventurer – he was human!

This is a fictionalized biography of Theodore “Teddy” Roosevelt. The author does a good job of using Roosevelt’s personality to help bring the book to life. He addresses most of the major events of his life, but since it is not a true biography there are several events that receive little or no mention in the novel. Overall it is a good read.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon and my nonfiction book review blog.

I must admit that prior to reading this book, I had very little knowledge of Teddy Roosevelt beyond a bit about the Spanish-American War, the legend of the Teddy Bear, and his being elected president. I love learning more about history and influential historical figures...so jumped right on this book.

As I read, I had to smile a few times, as my thoughts turned to what it would be like to be at a dinner party with a man like Teddy Roosevelt. He would be the guy with a response to everything - "Oh, I did that once....'' or a one-up for anybody's story. The difference between Teddy and That Guy (we have all met That Guy at one party/dinner/social gathering or another -- you know the type I mean) is that Teddy actually did all those things -- climbed the mountains, fought the war, hunted the dangerous predator in the wilds, traveled to the jungle, faced death, etc. The man even finished a public speech after being shot by a would-be assassin. Who the hell does that?? Teddy Roosevelt, that's who. His one-ups wouldn't just be BS -- he did the things. [I also kept thinking about the movie Arsenic and Old Lace with the mentally ill brother who thought he was Teddy Roosevelt, blowing his trumpet in the house to charge up the stairs and burying "yellow fever victims" in the basement for his murderous sisters. I think Teddy would have seen the humor in the portrayal.]

I definitely enjoyed reading this book about a larger-than-life man who really lived his life. He lived the complete hell out of life, and I'm sure enjoyed every moment.

Great book! This isn't a dry regurgitation of historical facts. Shaara keeps it interesting. This book kept my attention from start to finish. Well done! Bully! I will definitely be reading more by this author!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from St. Martins Press. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

A Novel of Theodore Roosevelt’s Life

Many biographies have been written about Theodore Roosevelt, and he himself was a prolific writer. In the present book, the author’s idea was to write a novel rather than another biography because he wanted the book to center on Roosevelt and what he thought and felt. In this spirit, the book begins with his early life. A spindly child who had severe asthma, his father wanted to harden him up. Much of Roosevelt’s later life particularly his time in the badlands was dedicated to physical fitness.

The book then moves to Roosevelt as an old man in interviews with his biographer Hagadorn. This device allows Roosevelt to tell the tales of his accomplishments and adventures and give his perspective. I think the device works well for what the author hoped to accomplish.

I enjoyed the book. It was well research and well written. However, I have a bias against putting ideas, feelings, and emotions into an historical character. I personally, don’t think it adds a great deal to the understanding of the real person. I have read several biographies of Roosevelt and personally didn’t think this book added much to my understanding of the man. Although I can’t highly recommend this book, it is an interesting take on Roosevelt’s response to his life.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

I've read a fair amount of biographies of politicians. I would classify this as a good read - nothing more, nothing less.

In this beautiful historical fiction book, Jeff Shaara peels back the layers on one of the most well-known figures in US history, Theodore Roosevelt. From his early years to his time in the precipice of the modern industry Theodore Roosevelt embodied the American dream. Here, readers get a more detailed look at all aspects of his life. I didn’t know much about Theodore Roosevelt prior to this book, but I loved how he was portrayed so honestly. This was my first read by Jeff Shaara, but as a long time fan of his father Michael Shaara’s work, I had to check this out and I am so glad that I did!

Thank you to Netgalley, Jeff Shaara and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC! “The Ole Lion” releases May 16th.

This will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

This book from Jeff Shaara about Theodore Roosevelt should be one that's enjoyed by presidential history buffs or fans of Teddy Roosevelt. There is a lot of detail about Roosevelt's early family life and interest in wildlife and conservation. The story was a little dry for me. It is a slow read. Thanks to St. Martin's for an advanced copy.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
I have to admit that I’ll read any thing by Jeff Shaara, but also Teddy Roosevelt is my go to President. This combo was a match made in heaven for a book!
Jeff Shaara always writes these well researched and presented books. It’s always engaging but informative without being dry. This was no different! I liked the story going between Teddy telling the reporter about his life and then the story unfolding kind of present tense for him.
Teddy is this perfect combination of superman meets president. He wanted to be the bride at every wedding and the corpse at every funeral. Although, I wouldn’t necessarily call him an attention seeker. It’s just attention seems to follow him.
I found the part about the Spanish American War to be especially gripping. I knew what lead up to him being involved in the going to war, and the result of his being in the war but had not actually read about the during part. I definitely want to read more about the Spanish American war. I also had read some on the trip down the amazon and was riveted about the descriptions in the this book.
Currently , this has been my favorite read of 2023
I was also able to listen to the audiobook and switch back and forth between the two versions. The reader for this was spot on! Teddy sounded exactly how I expected him to sound