David Crockett: Hero of the Common Man (American Heroes)

By William Groneman

Book Overview

Perhaps no other figure in American history is more shrouded in myth and legend than David ("Davy") Crockett, the Tennessee frontiersman whose death at the Alamo in 1836 ensured his place in the Valhalla of American heroes.Crockett himself was responsible for much of the folklore about his life. A gregarious, fun-loving man, he was more than capable of spinning tall tales over a "horn" of liquor. The truth of his life, as William Groneman emphasizes in this book, was far more fascinating than the myth. David Crockett was a true self-made man who left home at the age of twelve. His adventures--hunting and exploring, serving as a soldier under Andrew Jackson in the Creek Indian War of 1813, a political career that took him to the United States Congress, an incessant search for "elbow room" that drew him to Texas-these were the real fabric of a heroic life.In writing of the "historical Crockett," Groneman, a world authority on the Alamo and its defenders, dispels the myths to uncover the genuine hero. He writes at length of the defense of the Alamo, describes how Crockett's reputation and heroism have been tainted by revisionist historians, and presents new evidence that the Tennessean actually left the Alamo during the siege to bring in reinforcements. Although safely outside the walls, he fought his way back in to rejoin his friends for the final, fatal, battle.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0765310678
• ISBN13: 9780765310675
• Release Date: November 2005
• Publisher: Forge
• Length: 207 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.7" x 7.7"

Customer Reviews

Wish there were ten stars for this book!

Do not let the small dimensions of this book fool you....good things do come in small packages! Bill Groneman is the most eloquent author on Crockett I have read to date!! His coverage of the events of David's life, and the end at the Alamo are factual, and well written. He disproves the validity of the de la Pena diary, with many well documented verified eyewitness accounts of the death of Crockett inside the Alamo compound. It seems the "How did Davy Die?" book and the rest of the historical revisionists were led down the fairybook lane. My apology to the now deceased Mr. Dan Kilgore who was a good friend, but sometimes people are taken in by cleverly forged documents. Groneman is one of the foremost Alamo and Crockett historians, and delivers this book in a highly entertaining and enlightening way, without being a complete bore. I would do public school students a service to have this book in every public school library in Texas and Tennessee. It should be required reading for Texas history class. Crockett was indeed the hero of the common man. I HIGHLY recommend this book!

Excellent Effort by a Highly Qualified Author

This is an excellent biography by a highly qualified author. Groneman has succeeded in factually portraying Crockett as a 'Hero of the Common Man'. Not an easy task when you consider all of the stories, hearsay, poor communication, and political rhetoric that need to be sifted through. It's concise, but a really solid adult read. Enjoy it !

Engaging, informative short biography of an American icon

Bill Groneman's latest Crockett book presents a well-rounded character study of America's most famous frontiersman, the legendary David Crockett, in a spare and economical writing style packed with entertaining details. It fills the need for a popular history that is at the same time well-grounded in research and fact. Drawing heavily on Crockett's own writings as well as other contemporary records, "Hero of the Common Man" humanizes this larger-than-life figure by sticking to the actual man and not the ringtailed roarer of folklore. But Crockett's real story is as engrossing and surprising as any tall tale, and Groneman does a fine job of sketching the highlights of Crockett's youth, military service, public career as a legislator and Congressman, and finally, hero of the Alamo. The man who emerges from these pages may stand in the shadows of his legend, but is no less admirable. Crockett's basic decency, determination, good-humor, and courage cannot help but impress the reader, and it is easy to see why men were willing to follow him and how fantastic stories attached themselves to his coattails even before his death. Not being an academic work, the text is not disrupted by citations, which is a bit of a downer to researchers wishing to pursue the source material. There are also no illustrations, which is a pity. Still, as a short but serious introduction to Crockett's life and times, this volume is an excellent offering.