NAMESAKE:BIOGRAPHY OF THEODORE [Hardcover]

Robert W. Walker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 7, 2004

Theodore Roosevelt Jr. was the son of President Roosevelt. This dynastic biography reveals the man as a failed politician, brilliant military strategist, decorated hero in 2 World Wars, key figure in D-Day, and a founder of the American Legion, a veteran's group with 3 million members.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 300 pages
• Publisher: BRICKTOWER; 1 edition (September 7, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1883283418
• ISBN-13: 978-1883283414
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #159,727 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Solid work if not particularly unique, April 19, 2009

By 

Mannie Liscum (Columbia, MO United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: NAMESAKE:BIOGRAPHY OF THEODORE (Hardcover)

Robert W. Walker's book The Namesake seeks to bring the amazing life of Theodore Roosevelt Jr., who has existed under the shadow of his famous father the Sr. Teddy both in life and posthumously. The Namesake is well written book that brings to life the story of `Ted' such that readers will be fully engaged. Walker's text of 212 pp. is organized like a five-act play: Act I, childhood and familial environments that shaped the man; Act II, service in the `Great War'; Act III, years in domestic politics; Act IV, territorial governance and expeditions for the Field Museum of Chicago; and Act V, service in World War II. Most readers are likely to find a majority of the information in The Namesake new and informative. However, it is important to note that while Walker pitches his book as the initial and sole biography of Ted (pp. iii), readers should be aware that TR biographer H. Paul Jeffers had published a full biography on Ted (Theodore Roosevelt Jr.: The Life of a War Hero) a full six years prior to the publishing of The Namesake. In comparison to Jeffers' book, Walker's is not greatly different, nor does it really present information not in Jeffers' work. Still readers should not necessarily be deterred from reading The Namesake based on this comparison, especially if they wish to learn about a true American hero and statesman of the 20th century. 3.5 stars overall (4.5 if it had truly been unique).

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good stuff for history buffs, particularly TR afficienados, April 19, 2010

By 

Greg Torino (Las Vegas) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: NAMESAKE:BIOGRAPHY OF THEODORE (Hardcover)

This book it thorough, if laudatory, of TR Jr. Nobody could easily live up to the reputation of TR himself, but his oldest son sure made a helluva go of it. Highly decorated war hero in two wars (WWI and WWII), a bit of an amateur at politics who isn't nearly as well-known as his fifth cousin. The book explores in detail the well-documented, and yet still largely unknown life, of one of America's great soldiers. It also makes the point that had things worked out differently, particularly if TR Jr. had run for office in 1928 instead of hunting overseas, things could have been vastly different in the 1930s and 1940s. We'll never know, but it makes for very intriguing reading. This book also explores TR Jr.'s appointments to the Philippines and Puerto Rico, two diverse posts for him in a decidedly non-military status. Of note is the particular genealogy that differentiated the Hyde Park branch of the Roosevelt Family from the group in Oyster Bay. It really made me want to visit Sagamore Hill.

I found it very poignant how highly regarded he was by his troops and not so well regarded by some of his superiors. It's hard to argue with the Medal of Honor, though.

Some typographical errors but a good and entertaining read nonetheless.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very interesting read, April 24, 2011

By 

Roy M. Pitkin (Palm Springs, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: NAMESAKE:BIOGRAPHY OF THEODORE (Hardcover)

I found this a fascinating story of a person I knew little about. He came from a remarkable family and, while he necessarily lived in the shadow of his famous father, he was quite a person--politician, businessman, and most of all an incredible hero of two wars. I am not familiar with the earlier biography and therefore cannot comment on the issue of what this one provides that is new. But for me it was one of my most interesting reads of the last several years.