The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt

This new unabridged recording of Edmund Morris's classic history of TR's early years is a listening joy. Mark Deakins's rich, warm voice is clear and measured. His foreign pronunciations (in German, French, and Spanish) are careful. Overall, his narration supports Morris's empathetic biography of this most straightforward yet enigmatic of men. When delivering quotes, like most TR readers, Deakins has some difficulty deciding whether to give the great man the voice he deserves--deep and authoritative--or the voice he actually had--abrupt and squeaky. Morris's empathy and research continue to stand out after more than 30 years. Apparently, a movie of the book will be released in 2011. F.C. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

Keeping the same narrator who was used for Morris's THEODORE REX (the book describing Roosevelt's years as president) helps fans maintain continuity. TR was a complex and contradictory genius of a man not easily understood in today's more politically correct atmosphere. Reader Harry Chase helps this process by bringing out the compassion and "enthusiastic rambunctiousness" that mere words or photos can never quite get across. Theodore Roosevelt was a bellicose man who won a Nobel Peace Prize, a great nature conservationist who loved to hunt, a bull moose of a man who liked nothing better than to get down on his hands and knees to play with his children. All of this is brought adroitly alive by Chase's marvelous reading. In many ways more interesting and informative as to the makeup of this amazing man than even THEODORE REX, this Pulitzer Prize winner is a brilliant gem of captured history. D.G. (c) AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine