In Trace of TR - by Dan Aadland (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

As a student of American history, as a hunter, horseman, and former Marine, and as someone passionate about the West, Dan Aadland had long felt a kinship with Theodore Roosevelt. One day, on a single-footing horse, lever-action rifle under his knee, Aadland set out to become acquainted with TR as only those who shared his experiences could. In Trace of TR documents that quest, inviting readers to ride along and get to know Theodore Roosevelt through the western environment that so profoundly influenced him. Accompany Aadland as he rides the broad prairies in search of TR's "prongbuck," tracks elk through the rugged Big Horn Mountains, and pursues a glimpse of the grizzly in the Absaroka Wilderness. Along the way the author's campfire musings and reflections on Roosevelt's writings further deepen and enrich this unique examination of our twenty-sixth president. With the trill of the western meadowlark and the bugle of the elk, the creak of saddle leather and the scent of sage, Aadland's journey takes readers into TR's beloved Dakota Territory then and now, offering a kindred spirit's moving, deftly drawn portrait of both the land and the man across the space of a century.

Review Quotes

"Aadland is a good writer who has pursued an unusual set of interests into some of the best country left in the United States. He's worth a read."--Chris Madson, Wyoming Wildlife

"Aadland's unique experiences allow the reader to understand TR in an intimate way and appreciate how the Western landscape helped shape his character."--Lauren Halley, American Cowboy

"In a book that is part history lesson and part memoir, mixed with a healthy dose of hunting lore and a sprinkling of political comment, Aadland offers a unique and local perspective of the man he refers to as 'TR.'" --Linda Halstead-Acharya, Billings Gazette-- (4/18/2010 12:00:00 AM)

"Readers who hunt big game will enjoy the many interesting stories and will quickly recognize that Dan knows firsthand 'whereof he speaks, ' whether it is in the terminology associated with packing, or as his wife suspects, in the 'mysterious code' that we cartridge reloaders converse in."--Montana Sporting Journal

"Seemingly as accomplished as his subject, author Dan Aadland, while not (yet) president of the United States, is an astute student of American history, a hunter, horseman, horse breeder, retired teacher, former Marine--and he's also a heck of a writer. . . . [In Trace of TR is] a powerful book that I think Theodore Roosevelt would have understood and enjoyed."--Matthew P. Mayo, Roundup Magazine

"The admiration for Roosevelt, Montana hunting and all things outdoors is evident in Dan Aadland's well-written In Trace of TR: A Montana Hunter's Journey. . . . The book is interlaced with stories of Roosevelt's hunts, and it offers a keen perception for the Montana landscape and the man who loved the adventure as much as the sport."--Linda Wommack, True West Magazine-- (5/1/2010 12:00:00 AM)

About the Author

Dan Aadland is a rancher, writer, and retired teacher who breeds horses in Absarokee, Montana. His books include The Best of All Seasons: Fifty Years as a Montana Hunter (Nebraska 2007) and Sketches from the Ranch: A Montana Memoir, available in a Bison Books edition.