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Narrative Life Of David Crockett: Of State Of Tennessee (Tennesseana Editions)

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Davy Crockett's Narrative first appeared early in 1834 at the height of his political career. During the 1820s he had won a couple of terms in the Tennessee state legislature, and in 1827 he won a seat in Congress representing the western half of the state. He was a foe of Andrew Jackson and a political maverick; when he advocated for Indian rights he won the enmity of many in Congress and his constituents, and was voted from office in 1831. He licked his wounds and patched up differences, and was re-elected in 1833. To bolster his image, which was already taking on legendary aspects, this Narrative was written with his friend Thomas Chilton. Told in bold, humorous, boastful strokes, it is nonetheless a campaign biography and ends with sharp attacks on Jackson.

The way the Narrative is set up here is very useful for the reader. It appears in facsimile form, with wide margins set around it, in which Shackford explains, corrects, and separates fact from fiction in Crockett's assertions. It's almost like watching a movie on DVD along with critical commentary. Interestingly, many errors that appear in the Narrative were intentional and are often self-deprecating, making Crockett more unsophisticated and lowbrow than he really was in order to win votes with the farmers and backwoodsmen of western Tennessee. Most of the historical references he makes are quite accurate. As a campaign biography to help him win re-election in 1835, however, it was a failure, as he lost to a Jacksonian. After that, he set his eyes on Texas.

The format chosen here is what makes this book a success. The many annotations make this edition of the Narrative the most informative and "honest" in print. Highly recommended.

David Crockett found himself to have become mythologized in his own lifetime. Every indication is that he arrived at this place accidentally, but that once he recognized his own pop-culture status he took advantage of it and nurtured it at every turn. His Narrative, therefore, must be read with a certain amount of skepticism nevertheless it is still valuable as an historical record.

The narrative is a journey from start to finish; true Homeric stuff. He describes his journey into adulthood in pre-Mark Twain style, then his journey as an adventurer in the military, his journey across the state of Tennessee with his family, and finally his journey into politics. There may be many embellishments within his narrative, but considering the period in which it was written (while he contemplated a much larger political career) the topics he chose to describe actually seem prosaic and understated, as if he were deliberately trying to avoid bragging about himself. In this light, perhaps the Narrative is more accurate than is generally assumed. The Narrative may have been ghost-written by someone else, but there is enough Crockett in it to give it legitimacy. His jabs at Andrew Jackson are quaintly hilarious, but they are also true. In this pre-Alamo period of his life, his willingness to take a stand against Jackson might be the bravest thing he ever did.

Lastly, the language itself is fascinating. The Narrative may be laced with over-the-top phrases such as, "knocked his trotters out from under him", but at the same time he writes, "if a fellow is born to be hung, he will never be drowned..." This is classic southern wisdom, words I have heard with my own ears in the mountains of eastern Tennessee, so Crockett's Narrative is either very authentic or was itself the basis for an evolving southern culture. In this way, the Narrative should be considered classic American literature.

For more information about David Crockett, also read Kirk Ward Robinson's "Founding Courage."

It is a great book, a real whopper. And I'll be skinned alive and burned by an injun if it aint one of the moost enthralling books I've read. Colonel Crockett didn't have the greatest spelling, or punctuation, but it was a great book. In the 1830's, Edgar Allan Poe wrote a review of the book, criticizing its grammar, but what he forgot to say was how it was exciting, and easy to read. At the time, it was the bestselling book in the nation.

Confusion about authorhip has followed "A Narrative" more than 170 years. It helps to understand that Thos. Chilton, Representative from Kentucky, shared living quarters with Crockett at Mary Ball's Rooming House. They were actual bedfellows, which was the custom of the times; Thos. Chilton was father, eventually, to 15 children. Thomas Chilton had a university education and wrote with recognized eloquence. He crafted "A Narrative" from Crockett's notes and dictation, using carefully the homespun dialogue of his friend.

Thos. Chilton, a skilled lawyer, was not fool enough to do all this this work for free. Davy Crockett arranged for his publisher to pay fifty percent of the book's royalties to Thomas Chilton, who agreed to have no mention of his name in the book. What remains rather obscure is the disposition of royalites after Crockett's death. Thomas Chilton died in 1854.

The role played by Thomas Chilton in "A Narrative" was lost to history for nearly a hundred years, except inside the Chilton Family.

-- Edward M. Chilton

Penned during the ORIGINAL Crockett "craze" of the 1830's, this is the Tennessean's own story in his "own" words. (Much of this book was heavy edited and, some would say, ghost written by one of Crockett's supporters.) Still, it's worth adding to a "Crockett" Library. Parts of the book have an almost "Dickens" like feel, especially the stories about the poverty and hardship suffered by the young David. Sprinkled through-out this book are hunting stories, scrapes with bears and panthers, a little romance, skirmishes with hostiles, frontier wit and humor. An annoying part of the narrative are the corny pseudo backwoods expressions, like "burst my boilers" and "knocked his trotters out from under him". Evidently the author(s) tired of this excessive hoakum too because it abruptly stops. (Thank You!) Much has been written about the legendary "Davy" but this brings the real man into more perspective. Even if you have little interest in Crockett lore, the NARRATIVE is still worth reading for it's glimpse into early 19th Century America.

Professor Hutton gives us a scholarly edition of an essential American folk narrative. Partly an exercise in self-promotion (Crockett makes it clear he sees himself on the way to the Presidency) and partly an attempt to correct - or recast - the myth that already surrounded him, it remains a valuable insight into the social history of early nineteenth-century America.

Davy was the great hero of the children of my generation, following the Disney movie, the Ballad and so on. It's nice to meet the real person at last. For, despite the fact that it was his friend Chilton who wrote down the words, and the fact that Crockett was very selective in what he reported and how he reported it, I think the man's real voice comes through.

Like all memoirs, this one gives the reader a feel for what life was like for people - frontier folk, that is - at the time, in a way that no history book, no matter how well researched, can. The overriding impression is of a life of extraordinary hardship, in which terrible setbacks are shrugged aside and the struggle resumed. It was also a culture of racial hostility, which gives rise to some references to non-whites - black and Indian - that will fall uneasily on most modern ears. But so it was.

The story gains added poignancy from the knowledge that it was published just two years before Crockett's death at the Alamo. It was there that his enduring fame was assured.

[PeterReeve]

The book contains many little known details long before Crockett's decision to get involved in Texas. It is thoughtfully

written & tries to separate facts from historical tales.

The book was in the excellent shape promised. I would recommend buying a book from this provider. I also recommend going through Amazon.com

Great Book!!! I especially liked the "folksy" way it was written, to give readers a real feel for the frontier, backwoods life in the Eastern States of 200 years ago. It's even endearing to read of Davy's real-life adventures in his own semi-literate writing style. He did make quite a life of his too-short 50 years on this Earth! I also highly recommend American Legend: The Real-Life Adventures of David Crockett, a more recent book by Buddy Levy. This was the first book I've read on the subject of Davy Crockett, and found the reference to "A Narrative...." in it. Also a very enjoyable, and engrossing book, although not written by Davy Crockett himself. Get both! If you have a fascination with American history, as I do, beside sharing Davy's birthday of August 17, you won't be able to put them down until you're through reading them! Enjoy!

I HAVE JUST FINISHED READING THE NARRATIVE OF DAVID CROCKETT FOR AN AMERICAN HISTORY CLASS AND HAVE TO DO A SHORT THREE PAGE PAPER ON THE BOOK. I WAS HOPING TO GET SOME IDEAS ON THE INTERNET TO HELP OUT WITH THE PAPER, AND SAW THIS LINK. THE BOOK WAS GREAT, EASY READING, AND INTERESTING TO THE READER, MYSELF. HOPE YOU ALL ENJOYED IT AS WELL AS I DID!