Teddy We Thought We Knew Ya

Theodore Roosevelt was certainly a man of his time--bold and brash and a man's man--which included being a big game hunter.  Author Darrin Lunde takes on a controversial topic when he writes The Naturalist.  This book does not discuss the Roosevelt who championed our national parks--but dissects the Roosevelt who traveled to Africa to kill and collect big game. 

This book's topic, written in 2015, is controversial to say the least.  In his lifetime--Teddy and his son killed more than 500 mammals for the stated purpose of scientific research.  Roosevelt wanted to collect a speciman of every species on earth as it was before humankind left an indelible mark on the earth.  He believed in protecting the wilderness, but also believed in killing and collecting specimans and writing their life histories.  Author Lunde states that Roosevelt knew that species would disappear and he better get out there and kill and record them before they did.  Say WHAT??

I wonder if it occurred to Teddy that his large parties of big game hunters could make hunting appear glamorous and encourage others to take African safaris and hunt for the thrill kill?   Roosevelt wrote several books about his adventures and there are archives full of hunting expedition photographs.  I would almost follow Lunde's train of thought about the scientific research being foremost in Roosevelt's mind--if Teddy and Co. hunted and collected mammals other than the big, majestic and showy african mammals.  Roosevelt bagged tigers and giraffes and white rhinos--not voles and possum.

Lunde has done exhaustive research on Roosevelt--and his writing style makes for an easy and compelling read.  Just make sure you like the subject matter before you purchase this book.  The cover of the book does not show any wild game photo--alive or dead--but Teddy in a natural majestic setting alone.  Remember-- in this case--this book ain't about the parks.

Thanks to Blogging for Books who provided me with a copy of this book to review.