Bratmike here and welcome to another edition of the Art of Manliness Podcast, Romanticism.

Not in terms of courtships and bouquets of roses, but as a philosophical approach to life

which blossomed in the 19th century embodies many tenets, including an nostalgia for the

past, a heroic view of the world, a firm sense of right and wrong, and the idea that an

individual can shape his own destiny, as well as have an outsized impact on the world.

It is through this lens of Romanticism, my guess, says that we can best understand one

of the most memorable, influential, and legendary figures in American history.

Theodore Roosevelt.

His name is H.W. Brands, and he's professor of history in the author of numerous books

and biographies, including TR, The Last Romantic.

Today on the show, Bill explains how Teddy Roosevelt was one of the last bears of the Romantic

Spirit in America, where his Romanticism came from, and how that spirit motivated him to

push and challenge himself through boyhood till death, led him to both egoistic excesses

and worthy epic deeds, and influenced everything from his familial relationships to his time

as president to his second and third acts in life.

After the show's over, check out our show notes at a-m dot i s slash Roosevelt Romantic.

H.W. joins you now via clearcast dot i o.

H.W. Brands, welcome to the show.

Delighted to be with you.

So you are a professor of history at the University of Texas.

You've also written several biographies, and the one we're going to be talking about today

is TR, The Last Romantic.

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