David Crockett: Hero of the Common Man (American Heroes Series) Book

Everyone knows about David "Davy" Crockett, but this book really fills in a lot. He was an outdoorsman who was for the common man. I had often thought of him as a lot like Andrew Jackson whom he idolized at one point and then was at loggerheads with at another. Andrew Jackson was sort of a sophisticated outdoorsman while David Crockett was of common man outdoorsman. Crockett cared for people he felt were similar to him and would often fight for them (the settlers of west Tennessee, Creek Indians (though he had fought against them once under Jackson's command), and Texans). I found the early parts of his life interesting because I knew so little about it. I was also impressed with his oratory skill, though he was barely educated he was a masterful speaker and once memorized an opponents speech and spoke first just so his opponent wouldn't be able to use his speech (his opponent was a very good speaker). I found the description of the battle of the Alamo graphic and compelling. I wish it had been a little longer, but in reality, it was probably a very quick battle. Some of the parts I didn't care for was towards the end when he compared other historians views of Crockett and how some may have viewed him as a coward. He discusses all the different sources that have been found and while this information is important it is boring. He goes on to talk about what Crockett came to symbolize. I didn't think this was really necessary. I think people can draw their own conclusions. Overall, a worthy read that leaves most readers more knowledgeable without filling them with ennui. There are bits of the book that are dull, but those bits help to establish it's validity.