Camping with President Roosevelt

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About this book

Before joining Theodore Roosevelt in Yellowstone in the spring of 1903, John Burroughs worries about keeping pace with the President's energy. Snowshoes and horseback travel seem daunting to a quieter companion who has spent years observing woodland life. His account begins with the rail trip west, where speeches, crowds, schoolchildren and old ranch friends reveal Roosevelt's ease with people and appetite for activity.

Once in the park, public appearances give way to close attention to animals and birds. Burroughs describes the two men tracking an unfamiliar call to a tiny owl in a spruce tree, while Canada jays visit camp and carry away scraps. The memoir combines a personal portrait with observations of Yellowstone, recording how Roosevelt's curiosity works in the field. Readers interested in nature writing or presidential character will find concrete encounters, affectionate humor and the perspective of a fellow observer.

About the author

John Burroughs

John Burroughs (1837-1921) was an American essayist and farmer from New York's Catskills who published more than two dozen books on birds, seasons, and country life. A friend of Whitman, Roosevelt, and Edison, he was among the most widely read naturalists of his day.