My Blessed, Wretched Life: Rebecca Boone's Story

by Sue Kelly Ballard

Paperback • 6 x 9 • 384 pages "Imagine living in the wilds of western Virginia during the early settlement of what would become Kentucky. Despite the solitary stillness of the early morning, this could be one's last day alive. Was that the sound of a bird or an Indian signal to attack? White settlers, hunters, Revolutionary War soldiers, and entrepreneurs were streaming into the sacred hunting grounds of the Native Americans who soon found their very existence threatened. Rebecca Bryan Boone and her household had to constantly be at the ready for Indian attacks — a grim reality in the new frontier. Sue Ballard's fresh approach to the wife of the famous frontiersman, Daniel Boone, offers an insightful view of the hopes, hardships, happiness, and horrors that most American pioneer women confronted. Rebecca narrates her story in dialect commensurate with the period. Ballard's skillful presentation engages the reader and vividly brings to life the everyday experiences of her subject." —Russell Hatter, City of Frankfort Historian, Capital City Museum, Frankfort, Kentucky "Much has been written about the adventurous frontiersman Daniel Boone. Author Sue Ballard documents the life of Daniel's wife, Rebecca Bryan Boone, a woman who deserves tribute for her role in carving new homes and new lives in the primitive and dangerous Kentucky wilderness. Ballard's description of Rebecca's day-to-day life is accurate in each detail, from raising their many children, farming, and kitchen work, to her hourly prayers and waiting in loneliness for the return of her trailblazing husband. Ballard's narrative voice takes hold of the reader from the first pages and sweeps us back to relive those earliest days of Kentucky history. This evocative book inspires admiration for Rebecca as a fine representative of our revered pioneer women whose bravery and strength established the way for following generations." —Mary Popham, MFA, Spalding University, Author of works of fiction and nonfiction, poetry, essays, and book reviews "Rebecca Boone's story is a must-read for all who love early American and Kentucky history. My Blessed, Wretched Life is history, adventure, memoir, and love story. Its Kentucky pioneer characters become people we intimately understand with all their strengths, weaknesses, joys, fears, and sorrows. Rebecca married an extraordinary man, Daniel Boone. Equally she was an extraordinary woman. The author, Sue Ballard, has carefully researched the historical facts in order to build Rebecca's world and use Rebecca's voice to tell her astonishing story. This book is for those who have already studied this tumultuous era. It is also for those who come to our pioneer history for the first time. The reader will turn its pages eagerly, absorbed by a saga emerging from the past as imagined by a fresh new author and a master story teller." —Anne (Mrs. Harry M.) Caudill
Anne Caudill has narrated colorful, insightful stories from her married life with Harry, renowned author of Night Comes to the Cumberlands , to author Terry Cummins in The Caudills of the Anne's Stories of Life with Harry

Genres: History

384 pages, Paperback

First published April 27, 2015

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't want this book to end. Also, I think it is wide open for a sequel. The writing is very smooth and believable. To me the research that Ms. Ballard conducted was point on. I live near the Yadkin River where the Boone's and Bryan's settled and even today the descriptions are accurate. I would recommend this to all readers that like historical fiction as well as Boone enthusiasts.

[Janet Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book! I grew up just a few miles from Fort Boonesborough and it was really neat to know the places being referenced in Madison County, Kentucky. I've read several books about Daniel, but I think Rebecca's life was a very compelling story too! I would read a chapter or two and then go to the internet to look up additional details and locations. The only flaw I saw was that I wished for a more detailed map of Madison County to be included in the book. I think this book would appeal to those with an interest in Kentucky history and to those who would like a "her-story" of the movement westward from the original 13 colonies. Recommended!

[Dr. Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book put so much of the history of our country’s birth into a new perspective for me. “My Blessed, Wretched Life” is the first-person account of the life of Rebecca Boone, the wife of Daniel Boone. The novel focuses on the years in the 1770-1780 timeframe and the life as a settler Kentucky. The contrast of the life of these settlers with the life of our forefathers who were deliberating and writing the Declaration of Independence would take volumes to explain. Having a good background of the life of our Patriots, this book should be considered essential reading for those of us who live benefitting from the work of these Patriots and settlers. Rebecca Boone is an amazing character and this first-person account will make you feel overwhelmed by all these settlers endured. This is a great book!

[Anita Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

. I enjoyed reading the perspective of Rebecca Boone. The story is full of adventure, peril, love and grief as the Boone family made their way into the Kentucky wilderness. At times I was angered by Daniel Boone’s drive to wander, explore and face countless dangers. Rebecca, the faithful, dutiful wife seemed to bear much of the burden of her family’s survival in a harsh land. The women were as much heroines as their well-known husbands yet rarely receive recognition for their bravery and incredible work to survive in such a harsh land. The author’s writing style made this an entertaining and enlightening story. I wish there was a sequel.

[Kathy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quotable:

The Boones always did have silver tongues and could talk you out of your petticoat at a prayer meeting.

The drunken intruder I had shot and wounded those many years ago when he tried to overpower me in my own front yard had fled, trailing blood. I never learned for certain if he lived or died, and with no witnesses, save my two young babes, I never worried family or husband with it for all the other troubles we had at the time.

The chief [Little Carpenter] gave a warning: Kentucke would be found dark and difficult to settle.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book 4 stars worth, but I think it is because I liked the topic and the kind of book this is. But it probably is a 3 star book, though getting towards 4. Rebecca’s story is one similar to many, I am sure, at the time, including my ancestors who journeyed the same route. I would recommend this book!

[Connie Huddleston · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book as research for a book. I found it to be well-written, informative, and highly researched. I sometimes forgot I was reading a novel and not a history book. I believe the author did an excellent job of telling Rebecca Boone's story.

[Carrie W · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cannot imagine how hard life was in the pioneer days!!!

[Charlene Hess · Rating 4 out of 5]

I live 15 minutes from Fort Boonesborough, so this was a neat read. The kind of story where you really feel like you know her by the end.

[Margie Gooldrup · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting read of history. Now that I live in northeast Tennessee, I can recognize the places mentioned in the book. Grateful to live in the 20/21st centuries versus the time period of the book!

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Rebecca Boone was anot amazing woman. Author
Shares the hardshipsame faced by early settlers.

[Miki]

Glad I wasn't born in pioneer days!!'

[Carol Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting perspective on the life of the family (fictional, of course) of Daniel Boone. Well written and an interesting journey into another time and another place.

[Merna Malmberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always was a lover of early American history, but had not read anything laterly. Once I started on this book about Rebecca Boone I had a hard time putting it down. Was a very well written book with lots of facts. The only thing missing was a map of where they lived in North Carolina and family tree on Rebecca 's side of her family.

[Sue Ballard]

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