Mornings On Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt [Abridged, Audiobook] [Audio CD]

David McCullough (Author), Edward Herrmann (Reader)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 8, 2003

FROM THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF JOHN ADAMS

Winner of the 1982 National Book Award for Biography, Mornings on Horseback is the brilliant biography of the young Theodore Roosevelt. Hailed as a masterpiece by Newsday, it is the story of a remarkable little boy -- seriously handicapped by recurrent and nearly fatal attacks of asthma -- and his struggle to manhood.

His father -- the first Theodore Roosevelt, "Greatheart," -- is a figure of unbounded energy, enormously attractive and selfless, a god in the eyes of his small, frail namesake. His mother -- Mittie Bulloch Roosevelt -- is a Southerner and celebrated beauty.

Mornings on Horseback spans seventeen years -- from 1869 when little "Teedie" is ten, to 1886 when he returns from the West a "real life cowboy" to pick up the pieces of a shattered life and begin anew, a grown man, whole in body and spirit.

This is a tale about family love and family loyalty...about courtship, childbirth and death, fathers and sons...about gutter politics and the tumultuous Republican Convention of 1884...about grizzly bears, grief and courage, and "blessed" mornings on horseback at Oyster Bay or beneath the limitless skies of the Badlands.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Denver Post A fine account of Roosevelt's rise to manhood, well written and, like its subject, full of irrepressible vitality.

Detroit News This is a marvelous chronicle of manners and morals, love and duty, and as captivating as anything you will find between book covers in a long while.

John Leonard The New York Times We have no better social historian.

About the Author

David McCullough has twice received the Pulitzer Prize, for Truman and John Adams, and twice received the National Book Award, for The Path Between the Seas and Mornings on Horseback.  His other widely praised books are 1776, Brave Companions, The Great Bridge, and The Johnstown Flood.  He has been honored with the National Book Foundation Distinguished Contribution to American Letters Award, the National Humanities Medal, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Edward Herrmann's films include Nixon, The Purple Rose of Cairo, Annie, and The Aviator. On television's Gilmore Girls he starred as the patriarch, Richard Gilmore. He has also appeared on The Good Wife, Law & Order, 30 Rock, Grey's Anatomy, and Oz. He earned an Emmy Award for The Practice, and remains well-known for his Emmy-nominated portrayals of FDR in Eleanor and Franklin and Eleanor and Franklin: The White House Years. On Broadway, he won a Tony Award for his performance in Mrs. Warren's Profession.

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Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio; Abridged edition (December 8, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743533461
• ISBN-13: 978-0743533461
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 5 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #104,463 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #26 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( R ) > Roosevelt, Theodore
  • #50 in Books > Books on CD > Biographies & Memoirs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Tops on TR, But Good Background to the Man, August 15, 2008

By 

EMM (SoCal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mornings On Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt (Audio CD)

I would read the back of a cereal box if David McCullough wrote it so I'm biased to him as an author.

This book should not be the source material for all things T.R. but does fill in the blanks on an interesting family, and goes a long way to explaining some of the details of the man's future life.

The writing here is very good and the material is interesting enough to keep going, even though you are ostensibly reading about the obscure family background of a famous American. Only a commanding figure could even warrant a book about his deep family tree and the details of the homes they lived in and their neighbors.

Good second tier material once you've read the major bios on TR.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Audio Version, January 7, 2007

By 

Booklover (With my nose in a book in Arkansas, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mornings On Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt (Audio CD)

The two readers for this meticulously researched biography of Theodore Roosevelt add appeal, especially when reading the parts with the southern lady or Irish accents. Well done!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Review on Mornings on Horseback, March 24, 2007

By 

Fernanda L. Costa "Costa" (Marietta, GA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Mornings On Horseback: The Story of an Extraordinary Family, a Vanished Way of Life, and the Unique Child Who Became Theodore Roosevelt (Audio CD)

This book is an excellent history material. For those who are studying or are just interested in American history, this a great secondary source that brings Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. to life. The style Mr. David McCullough uses is very easy to understand, and it is also very descriptive in nature which makes readers feel they were present at the scene. The only weakness is that the book limits T.R.'s life to a 19 year period, which happens before his greatest achievements. Basically, the author leaves you wanting more...

Great choice of biography, great author, and accessable price!

F.C, GA