Resumo de The River Of Doubt

The River of Doubt, by Candice Millard, recounts the true story of the 26th President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt, and his trip down the uncharted River of Doubt located in the central Brazilian Amazon rain forest. Roosevelt turned to tough physical challenges in the face of hardships in his daily life. This trip on the River of Doubt was his last great adventure, and nearly cost him his life.

In 1912, Roosevelt decided to run for a third term as President. He does not approve of the job his successor, William Howard Taft, is doing. Roosevelt decides to join the Progressive Party, as the Democratic candidate is already set as Woodrow Wilson. Roosevelt eventually looses the election to Wilson. He now craves an adventure. While on a speaking tour to South America, he learns of the unexplored river. Working with contacts in the United States, Roosevelt is introduced to Colonel Rondon. Rondon has explored more of the river area than anyone else, as he has traveled into the region setting up telegraph poles. Roosevelt is eager to put together a party to travel and map the River. Roosevelt and Rondon, along with Roosevelt?s son Kermit and additional scientists and local Indians, camaradas, begin the journey. They have excessive baggage, and the man in charge of the food has packed inappropriately, sending things such as cases of mustard and stuffed olives on the voyage. The boats purchased for the journey are not the correct type. Still, the Roosevelt exploration party paddle into the thick and silent forest, not knowing what dangers they will encounter.

The jungle is dark and foreboding on either side as the seven dugout canoes slide soundlessly down the river. Ominously, the forest is silent around them, not a bird?s chirp or a rustle of leaves on the ground or overhead. Kermit is in the lead canoe, as he has been drafted by Rondon to plant the survey sticks he will use to complete his survey of the river. No one has ever traveled this route and Rondon wants to make history by mapping the entire river. This job requires Kermit to be the first out of the canoes, hack a trail to a spot to plant the stake for Rondon to use to mark coordinates. Roosevelt is unhappy about this, as it puts Kermit in the most danger from snakes, native tribes, and countless other dangers. He says nothing to Rondon, who is essentially in charge of the expedition. This survey work makes slow going for the party.

The party is soon on reduced rations as they are unable to supplement their food with jungle wildlife and very few edible plants are found. The rapids encountered everyday requires portage around the rocky areas. When Kermit and two of the camaradas attempt to determine if the boats can ride through the rapids, the boat is destroyed on the rocks, and one of the camaradas dies. The first casualty in the party and the second soon takes place when one of the camaradas murders another over claims of stealing food. Roosevelt himself is injured in a canoe accident, and clings to life. He tells Kermit and the rest of the party to leave him to die. Kermit refuses, and eventually Roosevelt must undergo surgery in the wild.

River of Doubt has an ?Indiana Jones? flavor to it and is an excellent, exciting read. Treat yourself to it.

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