FROM THE CRITICS

Library Journal

Hero of the Boer War siege of Mafeking, founder of the Boy Scouts, and a leading British advocate of what Teddy Roosevelt called the ``strenuous life,'' Lord Baden-Powell long has needed a careful, deeply researched biography. This is especially true given the rumors of homosexuality, suggestions that he pilfered most of his scouting ideas from Ernest Thomson Seton, and general exercises in iconoclasm which have surrounded Baden-Powell's career in recent years. Of course, Jeal is no stranger to the ranks of idol breakers, as his widely acclaimed life of Dr. David Livingstone showed ( Livingstone , LJ 11/1/73). He brings the same talents which made that biography a hit to the present work, and the result is a balanced, definitive assessment which so far transcends previous treatments as to make them almost meaningless. This becomes the life of Baden-Powell, and it belongs on the shelves of every library, public and academic.-- James A. Casada, Winthrop Coll., Rock Hill, S . C.

Booknews

The much-anticipated biography of the ambitious and colorful, but insecure and enigmatic founder of the Boy Scouts and also actor, artist, spy, hoaxer, female impersonator, sportsman and regimental commander. Jeal is author of an earlier standard biography of David Livingstone. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)