In January of 2019—exactly 100 years after Theodore Roosevelt’s death—the Library of Congress released the single largest presidential archives to the public. 300,000 letters, speeches, and muses were available overnight.
Already fascinated by the life of Roosevelt, I began reading the letters…and didn’t stop. Entranced by being the first person in over 100 years to see the personal words of a larger-than-life historical character, I read over 10,000 of his letters, transcribing my favorite.
The transcriptions grew into a full-length collection.
Along the way, I dug into the recipient of each letter, and found that Theodore was casually communicating with barons of Japan, lords of England, world-famous biologists, explorers, writers, and a host of other interesting individuals. I wrote about each, giving a unique look into the early 1900s.
Sixty-nine state legislatures sat silently waiting for the echoes of accusation to suffocate in the chamber. The youngest member ever elected stood alone in a vast room full of wooden benches, high ceilings, and men in black coats. He had just accused one of the most powerful men in America and a state supreme court justice of fraud in front of Albany’s political body and was waiting for the Speaker’s verdict.
The Last Letters is available on Amazon
I think you’ll like it