The River of Doubt [Paperback]

I had often heard of Theodore Roosevelt's exploration down through the Amazon Jungle, but had never read the details of this great adventure. "The River of Doubt" gave me that opportunity. Recoiling from his defeat in the 1912 election, invitations to undertake a lecture tour of South America grew into a "Last chance to be a boy." More than that, this journey of exploration down the uncharted River of Doubt, enabled Roosevelt to add his name to the list of great explorers of the earth, along with Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, Hernando DeSoto and others who filled in blank spaces on the map.

It takes a book like this, totally devoted to the great exploration, to really convey the enormity of the challenge which met the Roosevelt expedition. Accompanied by his son, Kermit, and Brazil's most renowned explorer this voyage of discovery began by lightening its load at the expense of discharging food and equipment which it would later need. The River of Doubt was a thousand mile ribbon of water snaking through the densest jungle on earth. Challenged by waterfalls and rapids, heat and insects, deadly predators and watchful Indians, the expedition gradually weakened as it raced to reach the outside world before its supplies were exhausted. Drowned and murdered members had to be buried, crush canoes replaced, water hazards bypassed and elusive game hunted as the explorers struggled to complete the journey alive. Toward the end, little more than raw courage kept the men going.

For Theodore Roosevelt, this was a most unusual undertaking for an ex-President. Weakened by disease and infection resulting from a leg injury, TR almost died on several occasions and begged his companions to leave him behind so that the expedition would not be jeopardized. Protected by his son Kermit, he was denied the poison he had brought for just such an occasion and was brought out of the jungle broken, but alive.

This book is well written and holds the reader's attention as much as any mystery novel. An unexpected feature is the detailed description of the Amazonian environment. The narration of the problems presented by the unexpected timing of the ripening of fruit and the elusive traits of the game on which they had depended, introduces the reader into the scientific perspectives of the project. Through this work the reader obtains an appreciation for TR's strength of character. It is almost unimaginable that anyone with the privileges of a former president would undertake such a taxing and dangerous journey. On further reflection, it is equally unimaginable that TR would let such an opportunity pass. As readers of my Amazon reviews know, I am a committed Ted Head and have read extensively about him. In this book, author Candice Millard admits us into the Final Triumph of a Magnificent Life.

A fantastic adventure read which greatly improved my knowledge of the Amazon ,its history ,geography flora and fauna. I also learned a lot about old Teddy himself-strongly recommended.

Rapid - because I could not put it down. Adventure, geography, history, botany, human relationships, courage and brute strength all meet in the impenetrable tangle of jungle and river. Was it a pity that no map of the area was included in the book? No, I decided, because the expediton party drew it as they went along so we had no right to know more than they did. However, at the end I turned to an atlas and was overawed by the immensity of the achievement.