Secondary sourceBook1919
Theodore Roosevelt: An Intimate Biography
William Roscoe Thayer · 1919
A 1919 biography of Theodore Roosevelt written by his longtime friend William Roscoe Thayer.
This biography of Roosevelt was written by his personal friend of forty years, offering a firsthand perspective on his life.
About this source
What it is
This book was written by William Roscoe Thayer and published in 1919, shortly after Roosevelt's death. Thayer knew Roosevelt personally for many years and based the biography on his own observations and friendship with him.
Why it matters
Because Thayer knew Roosevelt for decades, the biography offers a personal perspective on his character and career, though Thayer admits he did not always share Roosevelt's political views. It is a secondary source written close to the events it describes, useful for understanding how contemporaries viewed Roosevelt.
Look closer
- Why does Thayer feel the need to say in his preface that this is not meant as a eulogy?
- How might Thayer's personal friendship with Roosevelt affect what he chooses to include?
- What is the difference between a biography written by a friend and one written by a historian with no personal connection?
This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Theodore Roosevelt on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.
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