My Last Chance to Be a Boy: Theodore Roosevelt's South American Expedition of 1913-1914

by Joseph R. Ornig, Tweed Roosevelt (Foreword)

Using letters, diaries, and firsthand accounts, Ornig has pieced together the gripping story of Theodore Roosevelt's 1913-1914 expedition into the Brazilian equatorial forest that charted the course of the River of Doubt. The 54-year-old former president regarded the trip as his "last chance to be a boy", enjoying the skirmishes with tribesmen and wild animals and the overall adventure of the outing. 48 photos.

258 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1994

Reviews

[Don Diego · Rating 4 out of 5]

The title sums it up nicely. The rigors of this expedition likely overcame Theodore Roosevelt's capability to recover from their effects. Nevertheless, his spirit, ever youthful, made it irresistible to him.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having recently visited the Brazil-Argentina border, then Manaus and the Amazon rain forest a week later, the climate and environment was vivid in my mind. As an avid river rafter and explorer, the adventure really appeals to me and I am now considering someday retracing the route. This narrative, while astoundingly and arrogantly Anglo-centric, really brings to light the hardships and strain of such an ambitious journey. Roosevelt deserves huge credit for facilitating the exploration and for surviving it at his age, but the true heroes are the camaradas. These unnamed Brazilians did more work with less food than their better-funded American counterparts and are not recognized enough for their efforts. Consider them the Sherpas of the Amazon.

All that said, this is a fantastic story that is fairly well told and well worth the read by anyone interested in either Brazil or river exploration.

[Larry · Rating 4 out of 5]

TR's expedition to South America's unexplored areas was a bold attempt to keep energized after having suffered the one political defeat of his life in the 1912 election. The expedition, like most, faced incredible hardships of a sort that probably shortened Roosevelt's life, and the hardships are portrayed well.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow - what a great adventure - by an ex-president. An unbelivevable accounting of Teddy's South American expedition. This book goes into the category of great adventure books.