The Cimmerian

The Old Lion: Jeff Shaara

Theodore Roosevelt lies terribly ill, weak, in the waning days of his life.

As a reporter visits the Roosevelt home, the former president shares stories from his life.

TR’s final days are the framework for a fictional tale based on real biography in “The Old Lion: A Novel of Theodore Roosevelt” by bestselling author Jeff Shaara.

Roosevelt’s life has always read more like a novel rather than the biography of one man. Shaara rides full tilt into Roosevelt’s 60 years, from a sickly childhood to the rich dude who entered the hardscrabble world of politics to the author of numerous books to the heartbroken cowboy-rancher in the Badlands, to his time as New York police commissioner to assistant secretary of the Navy to the Rough Rider famed for the charge at San Juan Hill to New York governor, vice president then President of the United States to the post-presidency and his unsuccessful third-party bid to return to the presidency to his exploration of a South American river.

Dozens of books chart either an entire biography of Roosevelt’s life or focus specifically on a singular time in his life.

Shaara covers a lot of ground but he specifically spends time on Roosevelt’s privileged and eccentric childhood and youth; meeting his first wife, the loss of his father, the rise in politics, the terrible Valentine’s Day when his wife died in childbirth and his mother died in the same house; TR’s time as a rancher; becoming colonel of the Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War in Cuba; the presidency; the ill-fated journey along the River of Doubt.

It’s an ailing Roosevelt who introduces each of these chapters. He reminisces then Shaara transports readers directly to the era of a far more vital and vigorous Roosevelt.

Shaara pens an easily readable tale, though Roosevelt’s life tells the story itself. As many historians have learned, there is no end of narratives to explore in Roosevelt’s life.

“The Old Lion” is a solid introduction to newcomers to Theodore Roosevelt and an interesting addition for readers who have spent far more time with TR in numerous biographies and histories.

Comic Book Review

The Cimmerian Vol. 2

“The Cimmerian” title is the English translation of international comic book adaptations of Robert E. Howard’s Conan the Barbarian.

“The Cimmerian” features different writers and artists dipping into Howard’s 1930s pulp short stories of Conan. Each edition includes two stories. Conan is from the fictional Hyborian Age country of Cimmeria, hence the title.

“The Cimmerian Vol. 1” includes adaptations of Howard’s “Queen of the Black Coast” and “Red Nails.” Volume 3 includes “Iron Shadows in the Moon” and “The Man-Eaters of Zamboula.” Volume 4 includes “Beyond the Black River” and “Hour of the Dragon,” the only Conan novel penned by Howard.

Volume 2 adapts “People of the Black Circle” and “The Frost Giant’s Daughter.” In the first, Conan kidnaps a princess in hopes of ransoming her for the release of his warriors but he also faces the sorcerers who wish harm on the princess’ realm. In the latter, a magical woman taunts and tempts young Conan from the battlefield deep into the frozen tundra to face the wrath of her brethren and father.

Again, these are English translations of European adaptations under the title “Conan le Cimmerien.”

The books promise a Conan brought “to life uncensored.” Volume 2 keeps this promise though some long-time readers will feel they aren’t much more uncensored than the “Savage Sword of Conan” comics from the 1970s and ‘80s as well as more recent comics adaptations.

Long-time Conan readers will compare the Ablaze “Cimmerian” publications with adaptations of the same stories by Marvel Comics and Dark Horse Comics; in some cases, Marvel adapted stories in both “Conan the Barbarian” then again in “Savage Sword.”

The Marvel version of “People of the Black Circle” still seems the masterpiece compared to “The Cimmerian” version. Marvel and Dark Horse provided adaptations that are more true to Howard’s “The Frost Giant’s Daughter” but Robin Recht as writer and artist adds new twists that are wonderful and unexpected; for example, Recht opts to make the ice nymph’s brothers a pair of giant polar bears rather than the traditional red-bearded Viking giants.

“The Cimmerian” is a great find for Conan fans. and with other writers and artists taking a crack at the famed barbarian, Cimmeria should be an adventurous place to explore.