Synopsis: Roosevelt’s popular book Through the
Brazilian Wilderness describes his expedition into the Brazilian jungle in 1913
as a member of the Roosevelt-Rondon Scientific Expedition co-named after its
leader, Brazilian explorer Cândido Rondon. The book describes all of the
scientific discovery,scenic tropical vistas and exotic flora, fauna and wild
life experienced on the expedition, as well as the exciting human dramas which
occurred during the expedition.
“Speak softly and carry a big stick,” Words by which the 26th US
President, Theodore Roosevelt, lived by tell us to be cautious and
non-aggressive, but to be prepared for violence. Not only did
he apply this in his political life, but in all of his endeavors, especially in
his expeditions. One of his greatest accomplishments as an explorer, he
ventured into the Amazon and surveyed the “River of Doubt” alongside Brazilian
explorer Cândido Rondon for the first time, which he later recounted in his
famous novel “Through the Brazilian Wilderness”. Such and extraordinary
endeavor was met with great obstacles and shortcomings, but Theodore Roosevelt
pushed onward with the heart of a true explorer akin to the first people to
venture into the Atlantic Ocean from the Old World. As a man of science, his
intentions when undertaking this expedition were purely scientific in the sense
that he was there to survey the wilderness and record any new findings he might
see along the way, but he had an arsenal at the ready because he knows from
experience that nature is a lethal beauty. Because he took this trip at the age
of 55, after leading a life of great vigor, one can see how his perspective on
things does not shift significantly throughout. Also, he was a man of
scientific inquiry and had his mind open to new experiences and this journey
was more of the objective kind. Nevertheless, Theodore Roosevelt encountered
many situations in which his metal was tested, both physically and mentally,
which shaped his whole journey. Also, he met a great variety of people along
the way who in one-way or another influenced both of his journeys: internal and
external.
This book looks very interesting. Did it make you view Theodore Roosevelt differently? What did you most like about it?
ReplyDeleteWow Luis, how did you search for it? How did you pick this book instead of other options? It really seems to be interesting. In my case I search on Amazon and I pick mine, but it was hard to pick one.
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