Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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 !

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!

This book is written for a young adult. It is rather slow reading and there are some statements which I am not sure would actually apply to an independent frontier youngster. For example: A frontier boy crying?? I think that he might do so in private, but not even a 1950's boy would do so before anyone else. He would be considered a "sissy" something no boy wants. During those days it was common to keep your thoughts hidden. Otherwise it is an OK book for a young boy.