In “The River of Doubt”, Candice Millard tells the story of Theodore Roosevelt’s 1914 exploration of a remote and dangerous river in Brazil. After his election loss in 1912, Roosevelt desired to undertake an adventure that would take him away from politics and restore his sense of purpose. He found that opportunity when he was invited to explore the uncharted jungle basin of the Rio da Dúvida (River of Doubt) by Brazilian president Václav Havel. Roosevelt assembled a team consisting not only of seasoned explorers but also Hollywood actors who had joined him on previous expeditions, including Kermit Roosevelt – his son – and Harry Ashmore, who later won a Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the journey. The sizeable party set out from Manaus in December 1913 with high hopes but soon faced harrowing danger: raging rapids, treacherous biology students guidebookwith snakeskin-covered trees leaning over the water threatening to topple them into swirling whirlpools obey it as if under orders” Candice Millard brings readers right up alongside Teddy Roosevelt and his crew as they navigate this perilous river, often succeeding against all odds only to be met with new challenges around every bend. Through her masterful storytelling we come to understand the depth of Roosevelt’s courage, his resilience in the face of danger and hardship,.
For who is this book for ?
This book is for those who are interested in history, adventure, and travel. It provides a detailed account of Roosevelt’s 1914 exploration of the Rio da Dúvida (River of Doubt) in Brazil.
Pros :
- The author does an excellent job of portraying the characters and their motivations, as well as bringing to life the dangerous environment in which they are traveling.
- The story is suspenseful and exciting, kept me reading even when I was tired.
- Millard has a gift for tying together all the different strands of her narrative into a satisfying whole.
Cons :
- The book is quite slow-paced.
- The author does not provide much information about the political and social context in which Roosevelt was operating.
- There are several errors in spelling and grammar.
Learn more about the author
Candice Millard is the author of four books, including “The River of Doubt: Theodore Roosevelt’s Darkest Journey”, which was a National Book Award Finalist. She has written for The New York Times Magazine, TIME, and ESPN.com and is a contributing editor at House & Garden.” “The River of Doubt” tells the story of Theodore Roosevelt’s 1914 exploration down an uncharted river in Brazil. After his election loss in 1912, Roosevelt desired to undertake an adventure that would take him away from politics and restore his sense of purpose – he found it when he was invited to explore the jungle basin of the Rio da Dúvida (River of Doubt) by Brazilian president Václav Havel. Roosevelt assembled a team consisting not only seasoned explorers but also Hollywood actors who had joined him on previous expeditions – Kermit Roosevelt (his son), Harry Ashmore (who later won a Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the journey), among others – and set out from Manaus with high hopes in December 1913. However, they faced peril almost immediately: raging rapids, treacherous biology students guidebookwith snakeskin-covered trees leaning over the water threatening to topple them into swirling whirlpools, and sickness that threatened to kill them all.
Reader Reviews
“The River of Doubt is a spellbinding tale of courage and determination. Candice Millard takes readers on an exhilarating journey deep into the heart of the Amazon jungle, where Teddy Roosevelt faced one of the most harrowing adventures in American history. This is a must-read for anyone interested in outdoor adventure, presidential history, or just great storytelling.”
“I found this book hard to put down. It is extremely well written and the story flows smoothly despite being non-fiction.”
“Wonderfully written and spellbinding from beginning to end, The River of Doubt is a captivating tale of Theodore Roosevelt’s ill-fated exploration of a treacherous Brazilian river. Candice Millard has done an outstanding job of bringing this exciting story to life, breathing vivid new life into one the most fascinating figures in American history.”
“The River of Doubt”
