Teddy

Wide-ranging but intimate, the graphic biography Teddy profiles Theodore Roosevelt and his accomplishments.

Adapted from Laurence Luckinbill’s one-man play, the book anchors Roosevelt in his final months, after his twenty-one-year-old son was killed in World War I. While giving a speech, Roosevelt looks back on his life, speaking to his audience in a direct style. His fervor for military actions stands in stark contrast to his inner doubts; these conflicting aspects of his personality are gripping and affecting.

The book captures Roosevelt’s colorful personality and quirks, like his tendency toward distinct language: he uses words like “flubdub,” “mugwump,” and “bully.” Also depicted is his love for the outdoors, and his constant striving for improvement, as he was determined to live up to his father’s ideals. Fascinating insights into Roosevelt’s larger motivations arise, such as that “If I had never gone west, I would never have become president.” Interesting anecdotes about the Battle of San Juan Hill and the origin of the teddy bear are also included.

Remarkable likenesses of Roosevelt at different stages of his life come through the book’s art, as do images of his family members and other famous figures. The book’s backgrounds are rendered in sweeping, convincing detail, from the interiors of a government building to those of the Roosevelt residence, and extending to the wide expanses of the American West.

Covering both Roosevelt’s formative years and his achievements in the White House, and summarizing the politics of his time, Teddy is an excellent graphic biography that serves as a compelling reminder of why Theodore Roosevelt is considered one of the greatest US presidents.

Reviewed by Peter Dabbene

Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

Load Next Review