Davy Crockett: The Legend of the Wild Frontier (The Library of American Lives and Times)

Rating:
Summary: A solid juvenile biography of Davy Crockett
Review: So far the volumes in The Library of American Lives and Times are very nice looking. The covers always feature a portrait of the biographical subject in front of a key scene from their life; in this case, "Davy Crockett: The Legend of the Wild Frontier" is shown over a painting of the Battle of the Alamo. Author Richard Bruce Winders introduces the book by letting Crocket tell about himself, providing a choice excerpt from the 1835 edition of the "Davy Crockett Almanack" where he promises to convince everyone "that I can run faster, jump higher, squat lower, dive deeper, stay under longer, and come up drier, than any man in the whole country."

Obviously Winder's title is a play on the idea of Crockett as the King of the Wild Frontier, which was immortalized in the Fess Parker Disney films. Winders makes it clear from the start that he is trying to separate the truth from the legends, while continuing to enjoy the tall tales. This juvenile biography tells of how Crockett grew up on the frontier, married his first wife Polly, and served as a militia scout in the war against the Red Sticks. After that, Crockett began building the reputation that would make him an American legend as he went from a famous hunter of bears to the U.S. House of Representatives. One of the interesting aspects of this book is that we actually learn some details about Crockett in Congress; for example, he opposed the U.S. Military Academy as West Point since the poor were paying taxes that allowed the sons of the rich and powerful to go to school. Crockett also spoke out against the unfair treatment of Native Americans by President Andrew Jackson's administration.

While Crockett was in Congress he became famous for representing the true American. He served as the model for a frontier politician Colonel Nimrod Wildfire in the popular play, "The Lion of the West." When others made money off of his name writing biographies about him, Crockett authored his own autobiography. Winders also talks about the political friction between Crockett and Jackson. Along with charges that he was too busy being famous to represent his district, Crockett was defeated for re-election. Crockett then left Tennessee to go to Texas for hunt, where, of course, he became involved in the War for Texas and met his death at the Alamo.

"Davy Crockett: The Legend of the Wild Frontier" does deal much more with the real story and is illustrated with historic paintings, etching, and documents. In telling the story of the Alamo, for example, Winders focuses what little is actually known about Crockett's final days. It is only at the end of the book that Winders returns to the legend as part of Crockett's legacy. Young readers, however, should have a much better understanding of the historical Crockett after reading Winders' informative book.

Rating:
Summary: A solid juvenile biography of Davy Crockett
Review: So far the volumes in The Library of American Lives and Times are very nice looking. The covers always feature a portrait of the biographical subject in front of a key scene from their life; in this case, "Davy Crockett: The Legend of the Wild Frontier" is shown over a painting of the Battle of the Alamo. Author Richard Bruce Winders introduces the book by letting Crocket tell about himself, providing a choice excerpt from the 1835 edition of the "Davy Crockett Almanack" where he promises to convince everyone "that I can run faster, jump higher, squat lower, dive deeper, stay under longer, and come up drier, than any man in the whole country."

Obviously Winder's title is a play on the idea of Crockett as the King of the Wild Frontier, which was immortalized in the Fess Parker Disney films. Winders makes it clear from the start that he is trying to separate the truth from the legends, while continuing to enjoy the tall tales. This juvenile biography tells of how Crockett grew up on the frontier, married his first wife Polly, and served as a militia scout in the war against the Red Sticks. After that, Crockett began building the reputation that would make him an American legend as he went from a famous hunter of bears to the U.S. House of Representatives. One of the interesting aspects of this book is that we actually learn some details about Crockett in Congress; for example, he opposed the U.S. Military Academy as West Point since the poor were paying taxes that allowed the sons of the rich and powerful to go to school. Crockett also spoke out against the unfair treatment of Native Americans by President Andrew Jackson's administration.

While Crockett was in Congress he became famous for representing the true American. He served as the model for a frontier politician Colonel Nimrod Wildfire in the popular play, "The Lion of the West." When others made money off of his name writing biographies about him, Crockett authored his own autobiography. Winders also talks about the political friction between Crockett and Jackson. Along with charges that he was too busy being famous to represent his district, Crockett was defeated for re-election. Crockett then left Tennessee to go to Texas for hunt, where, of course, he became involved in the War for Texas and met his death at the Alamo.

"Davy Crockett: The Legend of the Wild Frontier" does deal much more with the real story and is illustrated with historic paintings, etching, and documents. In telling the story of the Alamo, for example, Winders focuses what little is actually known about Crockett's final days. It is only at the end of the book that Winders returns to the legend as part of Crockett's legacy. Young readers, however, should have a much better understanding of the historical Crockett after reading Winders' informative book.