Quentin Roosevelt. A Sketch with Letters. Edited by Kermit Roosevelt
New York: Scribner's Sons, 1921. Small quarto, original deep green cloth with gilt lettering, [xii], 282 pp., frontispiece and four plates. Touch of rubbing affects spine tips, otherwise an attractive near-fine copy. Uncommon and significant biography of First War aviator Quentin Roosevelt, son of Theodore Roosevelt, and the only child of a United States President ever to be killed in combat.
Born into the patrician Roosevelt family, Quentin was the son of Theodore by Lady Edith, née Carow. Beloved son of the President who supported America's involvement in the First World War, Quentin was mortally wounded in a dogfight over France and fell behind enemy lines. Buried with full honours by the Germans on account of his bravery and stature, the grave was later found by 303 Engineers, U.S. Army. The original grave-site at Chamery, France is illustrated with a full-page plate.
This biography is principally epistolary, and includes a heartfelt introduction by his brother Kermit. Indeed, the loss of Quentin devastated the Roosevelt family, and contributed to the death of his father shortly afterwards in January 1919. This biography is appended with memorial poems by Minna Irving, Mary Stewart Cutting, Harry D. Thompson, Charlotte Schnéegans, and others. Noffsinger 1250. Item #2356
Price (AUD): $175.00