The Frontiersmen

A Narrative

By: Allan W. Eckert

Narrated by: Kevin Foley

Length: 30 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

The frontiersmen were a remarkable breed of men. They were often rough and illiterate, sometimes brutal and vicious, often seeking an escape in the wilderness of mid-America from crimes committed back east. In the beautiful but deadly country that would one day come to be known as West Virginia, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, more often than not they left their bones to bleach beside forest paths or on the banks of the Ohio River, victims of Indians who claimed the vast virgin territory and strove to turn back the growing tide of whites.

These frontiersmen are the subjects of Allan W. Eckert's dramatic history. Against the background of such names as George Rogers Clark, Daniel Boone, Arthur St. Clair, Anthony Wayne, Simon Girty, and William Henry Harrison, Eckert has re-created the life of one of America's most outstanding heroes, Simon Kenton. Kenton's role in opening the Northwest Territory to settlement more than rivaled that of his friend Daniel Boone. By his 18th birthday, Kenton had already won frontier renown as woodsman, fighter, and scout. His incredible physical strength and endurance, his great dignity and innate kindness made him the ideal prototype of the frontier hero.

Yet there is another story to The Frontiersmen. It is equally the story of one of history's greatest leaders, whose misfortune was to be born to a doomed cause and a dying race. Tecumseh, the brilliant Shawnee chief, welded together by the sheer force of his intellect and charisma an incredible Indian confederacy that came desperately close to breaking the thrust of the white man's westward expansion. Like Kenton, Tecumseh was the paragon of his people's virtues, and the story of his life, in Eckert's hands, reveals most profoundly the grandeur and the tragedy of the American Indian.

©2001 Jesse Stuart Foundation (P)2011 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Historian-novelist Eckert has fashioned an epic narrative history of the struggle for dominance of the Ohio River Valley that makes compelling reading." ( Publishers Weekly)

The beauty and excitement of unsettled America

Actually bought this book seeking some insight on Tecumseh the great Indian chief. I was pleasantly surprised to find a book I almost couldn't put down - a great story of the American Midwest before the Civil War in the era of the "frontiersmen". Vivid descriptions of parts of the Midwest before it was settled, parts of which you can find on a map today from the author's description. So well written I felt I was there looking at it. Many adventures and action, and all true stories, of what it was like to be mostly (or all) alone in the wilderness. Similar to what you might expect reading about Daniel Boone (he's in here too) and other similar characters. I am a fan of Ambrose, and bought his Lewis and Clark book, and this book outshines it greatly in it's wonderful descriptions and stories of adventure - it is what I hoped to find in "Lewis and Clark". You will not regret this book!

A wonderful story, one forgets its a biography

It took me a while to begin the Frontiersmen, as it is a long listen, but I couldn't stop listening once I began. The narrative is done with skill and care in term of the author's writing and historical data, the story is so engrossing that the book flies by. It is a piece of history as well, a history that Eckert brings alive, so it feels like a story and less of a biography.

I highly recommend this book to people who love history and epic story telling.

Engaging presentation of historical fact

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is an insiders view of a time when maybe one or two European explorers had ventured into Ohio and Kentucky, and then how the flood of settlements broke loose. All this with the ongoing development of the colonies, the founding of the US and the wars with the British. The story centers on Simon Kenton, a man as famous (or more so) than Daniel Boone.

Amazing historical narrative

A lovingly crafted tale that surrounds the history and lives of frontiersman Simon Kenton and the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh. What I was blown away by were the painstaking details Eckert put into this book making sure nothing that was not documented contradicted with the history. I did not really know anything about either person and came away with a great respect for both. This book humbled me in my trivial trials compared to the days of the frontier. The narrator did a great job with the Indian words, names and accents as well as the other cultures which can be distracting or embarrassing if not done well.

Book of adventure, leadership and lessons

Truly an astonishing story of brave men and women in early American history. Leadership lessons from men big and small. Wonderful way to connect to ones past where honor, above all else, reigned supreme.

Excellent

Have read it and listened to it! Excellent narration. Fabulous if you are interested in American History!!
A great reminder of how we treat all people of color!!!!!!!

Don’t let the history experts sway you. This is terrific!

I am in the process of reading important books in each president in their order of office. In some cases several books. Along with us or other founders like Hamilton and John Marshall. I got sidetracked not long ago reading of general James Wilkinson and his involvement with Aaron Burr. The Wilkinson story along with that of Andrew Jackson resize a rich detailed history of western development of colonial and early American history particularly through the war of 1812. The frontiersmen Adds another rich layer to stitch together with history of The men and women engage in the making of America in the west at that time just east of the Mississippi in bordered on the other side by the Appalachians in the East Coast. Certainly all of the major events in historical milestones of which there are so many synchronize beautifully with the story. Anywhere I’ve done research to back up anything that I had doubts or additional interest and I have found the author to be correct within the range that should be expected as every book he read about any event it’s slightly different from the other. Being a fan of historical novels when done well I find his writing style as much to dragging you into a story which will listen to on an audible book with the skill of this reader is like a movie if you close your eyes. As the author explains at the outset is method for creating dialogue from diaries or other contemporaneous Documents my sense is that he did an excellent job providing something much more lively for us to read than the encyclopedia Britannica. Being someone who has been involved in Indian culture in the Powwow world for almost 50 years, having many Native American friends, and also an involvement in historical reenactment such as Rendezvous‘s revolutionary war, war of 1812, etc.I enjoyed the detail of his description of the material culture such as Simmons first weapon from Lancaster county Pennsylvania and the other regalia and wares Of the natives and frontier people. I look forward to reading or listening to many of Eckerts other works and cannot recommend this highly enough.

Great history story.

The author takes quite a few liberties with the details of the actual history but it does make for an interesting story filled with history of the early midwest.

An absolute gem of a book

Very well written very easy to listen to the hours flew by even though I stopped and replayed whole sections. Narration excellent don't miss this book.

Loved it!

The story and the writing make this a positive for me. Maybe a bit long but worth it in my estimation.