It was Henry James who coined the presidential sobriquet, Theodore Rex, which noted biographer Edmund Morris now uses as the title for the second installment of his projected three-volume biography of our 26th (and youngest ever) president. Theodore Rex was published on November 27 by Random House, which terms it "one of the most eagerly awaited presidential biographies in years." And in-print totals seem to bear out the claim: 325,000 after four trips to press. According to PW's starred review, Morris's work which follows his 1979 Pulitzer Prize winning The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt is "arguably the best consideration of Roosevelt's presidency ever penned." After kicking off the publicity blitz in New York on November 20, Morris embarked on a 10-city tour, where he's played to standing-room-only throngs. Among his media highlights are appearances on Today, CBS Sunday Morning, NPR's Morning Edition, etc.; Charlie Rose will tape an interview on December 18. Print coverage includes the cover of yesterday's New York Times Book Review.
With reporting by Dick Donahue.
