History has not forgotten their names but you probably have little idea of the friendship that penned a brilliant collection of America's finest legends & delivered them to the public as succinct true stories as relevant today as then.

Henry Cabot Lodge (1850-1924) & Theodore Roosevelt (1858-1919) met when the two young men first arrived in Washington D.C. at the advent of their public service careers.

The two became fast friends, which is hardly a surprise given their many shared interests and proclivities. Both were fervent polymaths, interested in a myriad of different subjects, disciplines, & issues. Both had avid interests in history & were fine writers. Both had an unusual philosophical & political outlook that exalted the common man & his remarkable ability to realize the American dream. Both were deeply devout & scrupulously moral, then as now, rather rare traits in Washington.

Edith Roosevelt, Teddy’s wife, first suggested the book project after listening to the two men trade favorite stories across the dinner table. The men took up her challenge with glee. "To you we owe the suggestion of writing this book. Its purpose, as you know better than anyone else, is to tell in simple fashion the story of some Americans who showed that they knew how to live and how to die; who proved their truth by their endeavor; and who joined to the stern and manly qualities which are essential to the well-being of a masterful race the virtues of gentleness, of patriotism, and of lofty adherence to an ideal."

Within this book, you will find adventuresome stories about Washington & Lincoln, The Alamo, & the Charge at Gettysburg. But you'll also enjoy intriguing tales about lesser-known but equally important epochs & greats from our nation's history, such as the Battle of New Orleans & Francis Parkman.

With an explanatory foreword by George Grant, this book has been out of print for years but now, once again available to relish!