In weaving the material into the connected narrative found in this book, the author consciously departed from fact in only one respect. Certain names are fictitious. In certain cases, in which the story he had to tell might give needless offense to the actors in it still surviving, or their children, and in which he was consequently confronted by the alternative of rejecting the story in question or changing the names, he chose the latter course without hesitation. Partly from books and letters, partly from documents and old newspapers, Hagedorn gathered bit by bit the story of Roosevelt's life as a ranchman; but the main sources of material were the men and women who were Roosevelt's companions and friends. Illustrated.