Davy Crockett, the King of the Wild Frontier, is a man of legend. He is said to have killed his first bear when he was three years old. His smile alone killed another, and he skinned a bear by forcing him to run between two trees. Fact or fiction? Find out the real story of this folk hero, who did love to hunt bears, served as a congressman for Tennessee, and fought and died at the Alamo.
This easy-reading autobiography of bear hunting and Indian fighting — written in 1834, two years before Crockett met his fate at the Alamo — popularized tall tales of the frontier.
Even as a pup, Davy Crockett "always delighted to be in the very thickest of danger." In his own inimitable style, he describes his earliest days in Tennessee, his two marriages, his career as an Indian fighter, his bear hunts, and his electioneering. His reputation as a b'ar hunter (he killed 105 in one season) sent him to Congress, and he was voted in and out as the price of cotton (and his relations with the Jacksonians) rose and fell. In 1834, when this autobiography appeared, Davy Crockett was already a folk hero with an eye on the White House. But a year later he would lose his seat in Congress and turn toward Texas and, ultimately, the Alamo.
Davy Crockett's life on the frontier, accomplishments as a soldier, and career as a politician are expertly detailed through the letters of the alphabet. In entries such as A is for Alamo; K is for Benjamin Kitchen, Crockett's first schoolmaster; and B is for Betsy, the name of his famous rifle, Crockett comes to life in this biography for young readers. Complete with a timeline of important events in Crockett's life and vibrant illustrations, this read is a must for young students of the legendary man.
Experience the thrilling journey of West Tennessee's David Crockett as he rises from frontier to fame to international icon. Using his wits, sense of humor, and common sense, David Crockett rose from the West Tennessee frontier during the divisive Jacksonian Era to become the first American celebrity. Early newspaper editors quickly found that his name and exploits-often exaggerated-led to increased sales, while the first biography about his life, printed while he was still living, became an instant bestseller. He even brokered some of the first licensing deals that reproduced his image and signature on prints and made them available to his fans. Talented men and women who were creating the American arts from scratch found in Crockett a muse who reflected how many in the country wanted to see themselves. They put him in books, plays, songs, and poems. Then, Americans made him a superhero. And there was substance to his style. As a member of Congress, he had a front-row seat as second and third generations of Americans took the torch of Democracy from the country's founding fathers and mothers and struggled to keep it burning. His list of friends and enemies was long and included notables like Andrew Jackson, Sam Houston, Henry Clay, and James K. Polk. As with celebrities who would come later like James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley, Crockett's tragic death would occur too early and fuel his transition from celebrity to icon. Decades later, Walt Disney introduced his own version of "Davy" and ignited a licensed product phenomenon unlike anything that had ever been seen before and rarely since. In The Accidental Fame and Lack of Fortune of West Tennessee's David Crockett, R. Scott Williams uncovers what propelled this meteoric rise from frontier to fame, while also examining the birth of Tennessee during one of the most fascinating periods in American history.
What will happen when the great Davy Crockett comes head to head with Halley's Comet? It's the biggest fiercest ball of fire ire that EVER lit up the heavens! (And why does Davy Crockett wear a coonskin cap anyway?) Rosalyn Schanzer peppers her telling with flavorful exaggerations, flamboyantly regaling readers with a larger-than-life drama played out in pictures bursting with color, humor, action, and detail. Listen to Daniel Pinkwater read, DAVY CROCKETT on Weekend Edition!
A biography of the legendary frontiersman, soldier, and martyr examines his life--from hunting bears in the unspoiled countryside to helping defend the Alamo--and aims to dispel long-held myths.
