Another book in the "American Heroes" series, this one by William Groneman III, the narration walks the reader through the exploits of Davy Crockett, a man most Americans think of as the man in the ‘coon-skin cap. The novel covers his lifespan in its entirety, additionally debunking popular myths about the man along the way. In sort of a “subtheme,” Groneman also examines the number of times that Crockett almost died, implying a sort of luck and ‘invincibility’ of this “American hero.”
I was more pleased with this book than the last “American Heroes” book I read (George Washington: First in War, First in Peace). In general, while the narrative was just as straightforward and spartan, it was enjoyable to read what “actually” (“actually” is in quotations for a reason—you’ll see in the next paragraph) happened to Mr. Crockett, as opposed to popular opinion. The book moved at a decent pace, and I found my mind wandering only during the description of then-Congressman Crockett’s tour of the East Coast. You pretty much get a day-by-day breakdown of a month-long trip, and, sorry, but 19th-century political-inspired travel with a “boys will be boys” mentality just doesn’t hold my interest. Some of the hunting trips also made me zone out, but surprisingly the author kept those descriptions to a minimum, only retelling important or pivotal trips that had either unintended events or consequences. Of course, I do have two complaints about the book, but neither are something to hold the presses about. As in the previous “AH” book, there is a distinct lack of maps and diagrams. While I understand the importance of the written word and how it’s written, most high school kids are not going to be able to recall the exact composition of the US in the early 19th century at the drop of a hat. Any sort of map would make the tale easier to follow, since less time would be spent dusting off the US history and figuring out who was doing what where and why. The second one pertains directly to this book: the author keeps his passion for the topic under wraps for most of the book, expressing it through his writing, but the last two chapters he lets the bear out of the cellar. This in itself isn’t reprehensible, but it breaks out during a chapter discussing the false descriptions and legends of Mr. Crockett. During this section, Groneman discusses with voracity the inaccuracies of most Crockett biographies, and how many throughout the years have portrayed throughout the years what they believe to be “correct.” He’s perfectly within his right saying this, obviously, since he is somewhat of an authority on the subject, but that leaves an ominous question in the air: What’s to say that this book is accurate? While I have no real reason to doubt Groneman, since this is his area of expertise, not mine, professed ‘authorities’ in years past have also made the same claim. His tale may be backed up by tangible, authentic evidence, but I’m a doubting Thomas on this one—show me, and then I’ll accept without question that this is a true portrayal of how things were. In terms of rating, I’d have to say a 7.5 out of 10. While I’d be much more likely to reread this over GW: FiW, FiP; I still wouldn’t leap for it. The prose is very dry and informational, and while the book was very readable, the tone works best for scholarly writing, not for an intended high school audience. However, if someone approached me asking about a short read dealing with Texas, Crockett, or the West in general, I’d at least mention this book in the course of discussion. The points the text raises certainly provides enough for contemplation and comparing to popular legend…and also enough to fuel any book group discussion about comparing/contrasting man vs. myth.
Rating (0 - 10 scale): 7
Reviewer Age: 19
Reviewer City, State and Country: Rochester, New York United States
