Simon Kenton, Kentucky Scout [Paperback]

Thomas D. Clark (Author), Melba Porter Hay (Editor), Edward Shenton (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1993 | ISBN-10: 0945084390 | ISBN-13: 978-0945084396

Adventure story, biography, western history -- Simon Kenton, Kentucky Scout fits all these descriptions. While still in his teens, Kenton explored Kentucky and became an expert woodsman. His daring rescue of Daniel Boone during an Indian attack on Boonsborough and his assistance to George Rogers Clark are prime examples of his skill and heroism.

No frontiersman showed more bravery than Kenton. When he was captured following a raid on the Indians' horses at Chillicothe, he exhibited almost superhuman endurance as he ran the dreaded gauntlet, and withstood numerous other tortures. He eventually escaped and returned to Kentucky.

In the mid-1780's, Kenton brought his family from Virginia and settled them in present day Mason County. By then, the primary Indian threat was over. However Kenton's role as Indian scout during the previous decade had been so important that his memory remains forever a part of Kentucky's history. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

This biography of Simon Kenton is an example of Clark's versatility and his desire to reach a variety of audiences. Clark wrote this work for a junior high and high school audience. The biography's sentence structure and vocabulary will appeal to a general audience as well. The brisk pace of the story, the vivid, lyrical descriptions of the early Kentucky landscape, interwoven with explanations of frontier culture and history, can inform, educate, and entertain anyone. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Jesse Stuart Foundation (November 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0945084390
• ISBN-13: 978-0945084396
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #731,288 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars History for younger audiences, March 9, 2000

By 

A. F. Baker (Georgetown, KY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Simon Kenton, Kentucky Scout (Paperback)

Among historians in Kentucky the name Thomas D. Clark is almost as important as Simon Kenton. Clark has had a remarkably long and fruitful career as a historian in Kentucky. Too many historians after a long career of teaching and writing history will retire into anonymity, but not Thomas Clark. Many years after the age when most people retire, Clark wrote a book about a frontiersman who first came into Kentucky when it was known as the Hostile West. This story of Kenton will not only come alive for adults, but could also be enjoyed by younger readers due to the audience that Clark had in mind when putting this history together. When first learning about the history of our nation, Kentucky students learn about the great military leaders of Virginia, and the men of the North East who dared to dream of being great political leaders, etc; It is hard to find a book that a young reader can sit down with and read about a person who will forever be known as a great Kentuckian. The life of Simon Kenton was not polished up by Clark and made into a politically correct story that will fit perfectly into our historical revisionistic modern textbooks. Clark doesn't cover up the fact that Kenton killed Indians, stole horses and guns, and took land away from people who certainly had rights to this beautiful hunting ground; this is REAL history, and it is written for an audience that may not otherwise hear this story. All young people, not only those who live in Kentucky, should learn about the life of Simon Kenton. Like Simon Kenton, Thomas D. Clark will forever be known as a great Kentuckian.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Simon Kenton : Kentucky Scout, July 27, 2005

By 

George C. Carter II "Lonesome George" (St. Louisville, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Simon Kenton, Kentucky Scout (Paperback)

Being an avid Simon Kenton fan, I was really looking forward to this book but found it quite boring. I suppose after reading Allan Eckert's "Frontiersman", any accounting of the life of Simon Kenton pales in comparison.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent history for young readers, December 14, 2009

By 

Thomas A. Fenton (Walton, Kentucky, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Simon Kenton, Kentucky Scout (Paperback)

"Simon Kenton, Kentucky Scout" by Thomas D. Clark is an excellent book for young readers. My first attempt to read it, however, was met with frustration, because I was expecting a literate, historical account designed for a serious reader and student of history. That desire was met by another book, "Simon Kenton, His Life And Period", by Edna Kenton, which marvelously filled that need. However, some time later, I returned to Clark's book, determined to read it to the end. This time, I found it a very interesting and well written treatise, but one that is closer to the classification of historical fiction than that of true history. "Kentucky Scout" reads like many made-for-television movies that add filler to what is known, in order to produce a more readable story. Nothing in the filler was historically inaccurate, but some of it gave the feel of a novel. It is, indeed, very readable, and I am glad that I went back to it. As an adult level history book, I was disappointed. It reads in places as a sanitized and politically correct history, devoid of the full impact of Kenton's life and actions, as well as that of most of the terror of Indian and pioneer cruelty and injustice. Also watered down was British participation in many of the massacres, which was mentioned, but under-covered. Clark does, however, give a credible and realistic description of Kenton's capture and torture at the hands of the Shawnee. In all, it was a pleasure to read, and one that I highly recommend for young people, especially, and for adults seeking an entertaining overview of a great man.