Clay Risen - Crowded Hour
When America declared war on Spain in 1898, the US Army had just 26,000 men, spread around the country—hardly an army at all. In desperation, the Rough Riders were born. A unique group of volunteers, ranging from Ivy League athletes to Arizona cowboys and led by Theodore Roosevelt, they helped secure victory in Cuba in a series of gripping, bloody fights across the island. Roosevelt called their charge in the Battle of San Juan Hill his “crowded hour”—a turning point in his life, one that led directly to the White House. “The instant I received the order,” wrote Roosevelt, “I sprang on my horse and then my ‘crowded hour’ began.” As "The Crowded Hour" reveals, it was a turning point for America as well, uniting the country and ushering in a new era of global power.
Both a portrait of these men, few of whom were traditional soldiers, and of the Spanish-American War itself, "The Crowded Hour" dives deep into the daily lives and struggles of Roosevelt and his regiment. Using diaries, letters, and memoirs, Risen illuminates a disproportionately influential moment in American history: a war of only six months’ time that dramatically altered the United States’ standing in the world. In this brilliant, enlightening narrative, the Rough Riders—and a country on the brink of a new global dominance—are brought fully and gloriously to life.
If you are unable to attend this event, you may pre-order a signed copy of the book below.
About the Author
Clay Risen is the deputy op-ed editor at The New York Times and the award-nominated author of "The Crowded Hour"; "Single Malt: A Guide to the Whiskies of Scotland"; "The Bill of the Century: The Epic Battle for the Civil Rights Act"; the best-selling "American Whiskey, Bourbon and Rye: A Guide to the Nation’s Favorite Spirit"; and "A Nation on Fire: America in the Wake of the King Assassination." He lives in Brooklyn with his wife and two children.
