East of the Sun and West of the Moon

by Theodore Roosevelt, Kermit Roosevelt

East of the Sun and west of the Moon , first published in 1926, is a remarkable book of travel and adventure by Theodore Roosevelt and his son Kermit. This book details the Roosevelts' exploration of the Himalayas, Tibet, and northern Asia, and their hunting big-game mammals including bighorn sheep, ibex and bear. Included are 2 maps and 25 pages of photographs. From Theodore Roosevelt's opening to the When I was defeated for Governor of New York I got an involuntary holiday, and fortunately my brother Kermit could adjust his affairs and free himself for the coming year. For years he and I had been planning to make an expedition together. Time and again we had to put it off, because when one could go, the other could not. This year conditions shaped themselves to make it possible. There were many delightful short trips we could have taken with reasonable comfort. We decided, however, that these should be saved for a later day when we had qualified for the grandfather class. We felt we should take the hard trek now when we were still in good condition physically, before we “carried too much weight for age.” Though I have done a certain amount of roughing it and hunting during my life, compared to Kermit I am a beginner. Every continent has seen the smoke of his camp-fires. He was on the expeditions made by my father to Africa and South America. His business is shipping, which takes him all over the world, and as a result he has been able in the course of his work to hunt in India, Manchuria, and various parts of the United States and Mexico.

Genres: Nonfiction, History

284 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 1, 1988

About the author

Theodore Roosevelt, Jr., also known as T.R., and to the public (but never to friends and family) as Teddy, was the twenty-sixth President of the United States, and a leader of the Republican Party and of the Progressive Movement.

He fathered Alice Roosevelt Longworth, a daughter.

He became the youngest President in United States history at the age of 42. He served in many roles including Governor of New York, historian, naturalist, explorer, author, and soldier (posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2001 for his role at the Battle of San Juan Hill in the Spanish-American War).

Roosevelt is most famous for his personality: his energy, his vast range of interests and achievements, his model of masculinity, and his "cowboy" persona.

Reviews

[Tabitha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book! I initially obtained it as an armchair-traveling read through my local library's fantastic (and free!) interlibrary loan program. It was a old 1926 edition with photos and penciled notes from 1926 at the beginning of each chapter to say which of the brothers had written it. So cool.

The book tells of Theodore (III) and Kermit Roosevelt's adventures while hunting in central Asia on behalf of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago. Both brothers wrote with sharp intelligence, pithy prose, and a general toughness that made me marvel. Their observations about the places and people they encountered during their travels were throughly enjoyable to read.

The dangers they encountered while hunting and camping in the Himalayas seemed incredible to me. Many harrowing experiences were described in a mere sentence or two with little comment beyond the actual events themselves. I read their accounts of their shikaries and various helpers with interest. On the whole, I had been prepared to read only the beginning and skim content regarding the actual hunts, as my interest in hunting usually extends only to the tasty spoils. However, the authors and their descriptions of the people they encountered were so engaging, it held my interest to the end.

I would note that more maps would have been a plus. Many names have changed, and it wasn't always possible to know where they were.

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book with the Roosevelt brothers alternating writing chapters about the James Simpson-Roosevelts-Field Museum Expedition to central Asia. My only complaint is the lack of maps in the book (could be more pictures, too) as so many of the boundaries and place names have changed in the past 90 years. The next time I visit the Field Museum, I'll have to see if some of this expedition's collections are still on display.

[J. Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

An exciting read and a real true life adventure. The Roosevelt's focus is very much on the collection of animals and observations of the cultures around them. I enjoyed the dangers they faced and their success and failures are outlined in a way which is exciting to read.

It doesn't have the existential angst and inward complications of Hemingway or Ruark. And they don't write with the same fire as WDM Bell. But it's an enjoyable read and well worth your time.

[Noli Janos · Rating 3 out of 5]

gets hella boring man

[Amin Malik]

a great book

[Craig Schlossin · Rating 3 out of 5]

True life adventure from a past time, good.

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some serious hardcore adventure travel, from Kashmir across the Himalayas into Turkestan by the sons of Teddy Roosevelt, Ted and Kermit. Hunting for animals--goats and sheep virtually unknown in the West--to deliver to the Field Museum.

"Though hunting in itself is a great sport, without the scientific aspect as well it loses much of its charm." Not sure today that bringing home hides and heads for exhibition purpose would be classed as scientific work, but has some value I guess.

The 1914 map in the Wikipedia entry for Turkestan shows placenames contemporary with this book.

[Marian]

*note: I own a first edition hardcover published by Charles Scribner's Sons in 1926.