The Taking of Jemima Boone

Colonial Settlers, Tribal Nations, and the Kidnap That Shaped America

De: Matthew Pearl

Narrado por: Jeremy Arthur

In his first work of narrative nonfiction, Matthew Pearl, best-selling author of acclaimed novel The Dante Club, explores the little-known true story of the kidnapping of legendary pioneer Daniel Boone’s daughter and the dramatic aftermath that rippled across the nation.

On a quiet midsummer day in 1776, weeks after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, 13-year-old Jemima Boone and her friends Betsy and Fanny Callaway disappear near the Kentucky settlement of Boonesboro, the echoes of their faraway screams lingering on the air.

A Cherokee-Shawnee raiding party has taken the girls as the latest salvo in the blood feud between American Indians and the colonial settlers who have decimated native lands and resources. Hanging Maw, the raiders’ leader, recognizes one of the captives as Jemima Boone, daughter of Kentucky's most influential pioneers, and realizes she could be a valuable pawn in the battle to drive the colonists out of the contested Kentucky territory for good.

With Daniel Boone and his posse in pursuit, Hanging Maw devises a plan that could ultimately bring greater peace both to the tribes and the colonists. But after the girls find clever ways to create a trail of clues, the raiding party is ambushed by Boone and the rescuers in a battle with reverberations that nobody could predict. As Matthew Pearl reveals, the exciting story of Jemima Boone’s kidnapping vividly illuminates the early days of America’s westward expansion, and the violent and tragic clashes across cultural lines that ensue.

In this enthralling narrative in the tradition of Candice Millard and David Grann, Matthew Pearl unearths a forgotten and dramatic series of events from early in the Revolutionary War that opens a window into America’s transition from colony to nation, with the heavy moral costs incurred amid shocking new alliances and betrayals.

Supplemental enhancement PDF accompanies the audiobook.

©2021 Matthew Pearl (P)2021 HarperCollins Publishers

interesting

I need 15 words...…..to much history about the time of indians vs English and not enough about capture site

Interesting history bland narrator

I enjoyed learning about this incident in history and about the Boone family. To date, my only experience with Daniel was the series with Fess Parker. Not terribly factual as you can imagine. My only reason for losing marks is the narrator was rather dry.

An American story with variety of perspectives

In depth probe of Jemima's kidnapping opened up a world of complexities that enlightened me about American Indian culture, the strength of pioneer women, and especially the American Revolution. The latter made me humble since I taught US history for over 10 years. Proving ince again, the more I learn about history the more I understand my world.

Excellent story.

I would love to see a movie made based on this book as long as it stay true to history.

Fantastic!!!

What a great piece of history. It is so relevant to the political climate of today. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

Enthralling story for any amateur historian

The kidnap happens so early in the book that it originally left me wondering what could be next, but what happens after IS the story. While at times the timeline jumps can be confusing, there thankfully are not many. Overall a great read!

Challenging expectation

This telling of a story that is far from new brings a 21st century perspective to the assorted accounts from three intervening centuries. It informs almost as much about those as it illuminates the real historical figures behind the Fess Parker images to which we are far more accustomed.

Kidnapping on the frontier

A wonderful retelling of the kidnapping of Daniel Boone’s daughter Jemima…transports you back in time to frontier life and the harrowing journey to making Westward expansion…the story takes place simultaneously with the Revolutionary War. Highly recommend this book!

informational

was a little drawn out but read about some history I was unaware of.

excellent!!!

excellent book, well researched. engaging history. performance was really easy to listen to. one of the best books I've listened to.