The Frontiersmen: A Narrative

by Allan W. Eckert, Marian T. Place

Vintage children's book

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Westerns

626 pages, Hardcover

Published January 1, 1967

About the author

Allan W. Eckert was an American historian, historical novelist, and naturalist.

Eckert was born in Buffalo, New York, and raised in the Chicago, Illinois area, but had been a long-time resident of Bellefontaine, Ohio, near where he attended college. As a young man, he hitch-hiked around the United States, living off the land and learning about wildlife. He began writing about nature and American history at the age of thirteen, eventually becoming an author of numerous books for children and adults. His children's novel, Incident at Hawk's Hill, was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal in 1972. One of his novels tells how the great auk went extinct.

In addition to his novels, he also wrote several unproduced screenplays and more than 225 Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom television shows for which he received an Emmy Award.

In a 1999 poll conducted by the Ohioana Library Association, jointly with Toni Morrison, Allan W. Eckert was voted "Favorite Ohio Writer of All Time."

Eckert died in his sleep on July 7, 2011, in Corona, California, at the age of 80.

Reviews

[Stephanie Weisgerber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mood: Thoughtful, Nostalgic, Savage
Theme: How westward expansion brought death and life.
Pace: Slow and purposeful
Writing Quality: Excellent descriptions with visual imagery and appropriate dialogue to time period of 1770's.
Length: 30.5 hours- Audible Edition

I first heard Mel Gibson (on a Joe Rogan podcast) recommend this book as one he had always considered a personal favorite and no doubt fantasized about making into a major motion picture. With that in mind, I loved this extensive story about westward expansion and the birth of America. The protagonist Simon Kenton, believing he has killed a man in his youth, flees westward and encounters dangers manifold. Somehow through his wit, ingenuity, and clever thinking, he makes it out of one trial and into another, subsequently becoming a hunting legend and famous for his escapades and extensive land holdings.
Simon encounters several famous men throughout the story, such as Daniel Boone, Lewis & Clark, William Henry Harrison, ect.. Their stories intersect with his in interesting twists and turns.
Simon was captured by the Shawnee Tribe in 1778, surviving multiple gauntlets, winning his life back, and apparently ingratiating himself to them, they adopt him as one of their own. This being his greatest feat in my opinion.
Tecumsah, the famous Shawnee Indian Chief, is another character featured prominently towards the middle/end of the story. We see the tension and hatred build between the settlers and the Indians as each attacks the other in unending vicious cycles, creating a need for government intervention and peace treaties. The torture scenes were vivid and abundant, at times making me cringe with their savage brutality. Set during the American Revolution, this historical fiction is ripe with real events and dramatically brings the dangers and heroes of our American history to life. The author clearly did extensive research to produce this fantastic novel. This is book #1 of his 6 part "Winning of America" series and I plan to read them all.
I would LOVE to see this book turned into a movie!

[Deborah Perkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much listening to this book! Recommended by Mel Gibson on a podcast, I wasn’t sure what it was going to be like. The narrator is outstanding and he takes you through actual American history taken from diary and journal entries 1761 to 1836. Well worth the 30.5 hours of listening. I’m sad it’s over…

[Gracie]

I apparently got 43% of the way through- couldn't finish it. The violence was so extreme and CONSTANT. I know that this wasn't necessarily the author's fault, it was how it happened in real life. But I can only stand to hear how people are brutally tortured and murdered so many times, and there was no end in sight. I honestly don't really know where the story was going, it was just one fight after another.
One of the main takeaways would be that the violence and cruelty in United States history was never just settlers on Native Americans. Every possible dynamic was violent to the other. Native Americans were brutal to Native Americans, settlers were brutal to each other, settlers and the English were brutal to each other, etc. Something interesting that I never learned before (especially in public school) was that the English actually paid the Native Americans and worked with them to kill the settlers. Apparently, the English would pay Native Americans $50 for each scalp and twice that amount for live prisoners. Sheesh.
There was so much violence in this book which was SO diabolical, it really was so evil that it was demonic. I just couldn't keep reading this, 31 hours of horrific torture and murder is just too much. Usually with history or even war stories there is just more plot or story going on, but with this one the violence was on every paragraph.

[Cami Lykins · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Frontiersmen, a historical narrative, reads like a most exciting novel. Full of rich history of the westward expansion, particularly the Ohio Valley, Allan Eckert paints scenes for the reader that bring to life scenes of a time passed.

Originally published in the 1970s, this work of art is a gem for any history lover.

Eckert tells the story of Simon Kenton, a young man who has run away from his home in Virginia. Thinking he has killed a man in a crime of passion, Kenton flees toward the Kentucky Canelands in search of abundant game and fertile land--but such prizes come at a great cost. Kenton, with fellow frontiersmen such as Daniel Boone, must defend newly claimed territories and their very lives against Native Americans. From fighting in famous battles to running the gauntlet, Simon Kenton's life is marked with near-miss experiences that will draw in the reader as if he or she is right there in this exciting yet frightful time in history.

[CHRIS · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will haunt you for a while. The sheer violence and utter disregard for human life back before, during and after the Revolution is nothing short of evil. More people need to know how this country became this behemoth of land the spreads for miles and miles. I learned more in this book than any history text I ever read in school, even college. Eckert puts history right in your face and leaves it there, to torment your thoughts for many nights. That being said, I couldn’t get enough of it. History has always fascinated me and especially history of the USA. I will be reading all of Eckerts books and to make sure I recommend them to as many history people as I can. It flows like a novel and each page makes your fingers bleed because you will undoubtedly want to turn to the next one with absolute vigor.

[Gail G · Rating 5 out of 5]

30 hours for the first two books of this series seemed impossible at times; however, I kept going back to see what happened.

I enjoyed my own Internet research of the areas and people in the book. I did read that years later historians showed from his descendants that Blue Jacket was not a white man.

The author won an Emmy and it shows in his writings about the men in the story. I never had heard of Simon Kenton before and that is a shame. I would recommend the novels of Dale Van Every to those who enjoyed these books.

I listened to the audio book and the narrator was great with the voices of different people.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Also heard this recommended on the Joe Rogan podcast by Mel Gibson so we had our doubts but, wow. THIS is how history should be taught in schools. By following the lives of a few prominent people in a time period. The horrific actions of the early American settlers and also of the natives as they battled over land was hard to comprehend. I learned so much about the time period from the 1770’s to the early 1800’s that I didn’t know. Fantastic book and a look into the terrifying nature of humans when we don’t have law and order in society…

[Jeffrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed learning about my favorite time period, the making of early America, where civilized society existed at the same time as the “uncivilized” land thought to be terra nullius or meaning it belonged to no one. I was pleasantly surprised of the religious conversions of some of the Native Americans. According to the narrative they seemed to be true believers of Christ and totally committed to Christianity.
Recommended to anyone wanting to know how life was during this time period.

[Sophia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredibly told narrative of the history of the establishment of Ohio and Kentucky. So much history that has been completely forgotten! Reads like fiction but all historically accurate. Violent but also a beautiful story of friendships, and hardship of the frontiersmen Simon Kenton (Butler). The Native American perspective is about the life of Tecumseh, Blue Jacket, and the great Shawnee Nation that was once established in southeast Ohio.

[Chaz Ricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a masterpiece.

One of the greatest historical narratives I’ve ever read.

This is an absolute beast of a book- but never once did I feel like I was slogging through.

The moment he was reunited with long lost family made me misty eyed, his capture by the Shawnee, torture and attempted escape had me on the edge of my seat, and the end made me feel sad at the fact that such a heroic and great man can end his life on the fringes of history.

Amazing.

Just an incredible

[Kendrick Hardin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an incredible story. I had never heard of Simon Kenton before. It's funny to me that, in school, we lean about Daniel Boone, but never hear about Kenton. I wish someone would narrate the rest of Eckerts works.

Also, very cool to hear references to the Reelfoot Lake region.

A long book, but the narrative style makes it carry easy.

[Ben · Rating 4 out of 5]

A story of the battle between the Indian tribes of Nth America (with the English) against the America at the end of the 18th century. A turbulent time of land grabs, killing and a world full of barbaric living. When finishing this book you feel that it was all for nothing... So much blood and gore.. When everyone just wanted a home and family..

[Mike Bergstrom · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and learned a great deal of history.

[Lars · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a Kentuckian this book makes me appreciate my heritage so much more.

[Kate · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to a few hours of this, but I got frustrated with the storytelling. Oftentimes he brings you a climax then abruptly changes the scene. I needed more wrapup or analysis before moving on.

[Abbie Porter · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel that any review I leave for this could be classified as irrelevant or void because this genre is just not my cup of tea, but I listened to it with my fiancé during car rides. I will say that while the events are interesting, it seemed like a robot wrote it and I'm not sure there was ever a point other than recounting events. While I realize that was the goal, my rating is on the delivery. It would be different if it was directly quoting a journal or something of the sort, but it's not.

Interesting events and characters if you read between the lines. Horrible delivery.