We’ve all heard of Davy Crockett, the
King of the Wild Frontier, but serious
historians have long known that the man
behind the myth was more substantive
and more complex. Current Crockett
scholarship has been largely based on
James Atkins Shackford’s 1956 biography,
David Crockett, the Man and the Legend,
and Shackford’s interpretation of the
historical Crockett as an admirable but
inept and somewhat naive politician has
become as pervasive in the historical
sector as the mythological “Davy” has to
the general public.
Now, two life-long Crockett aficionados
present missing correspondence and
previously unexamined primary
documentation that sets the record
straight. Countering the characterization
of Crockett as little more than a coonskincapped,
buckskin-clad frontier hero, this
remarkable biography chronicles his life
in politics, revealing him instead as an
inveterate entrepreneur, advocate for the
poor, and career politician with a talent
for hardball campaigning.
Following Crockett’s political rise from
justice of the peace and magistrate to
two-term representative in the Tennessee
State Legislature and three-term member
of the U.S. House of Representatives,
David Crockett in Congress fully documents
the elections of 1829, 1831, 1833, and
1835, details the progress of both the
Tennessee Land Bill (1829-1830) and the
Indian Removal Bill (1830), and traces
the evolution of the mythological “Davy.”
A truly exceptional volume, this
exploration offers an alternative context
for one of American history’s most
important, yet misunderstood, figures.
With heretofore unpublished documents,
portraits, and all the political writings of
Crockett as well as a complete and fully
annotated collection of Crockett
correspondence, David Crockett in Congress
is an insightful and provocative addition
to the library of any reader with a
passion for American history.
Authors James Boylston and Allen Wiener are happy to discuss book signings and speaking engagements. Please email one of the authors for information and event scheduling. |
