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)

Fascinating Story and Narrative

Where does The Frontiersmen rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

Top 10

How would you have changed the story to make it more enjoyable?

A little less dialogue, a little more fact

What does Kevin Foley bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

He puts magnificent character voices in the reader's head

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It kept me on the edge of my seat. It is dramatic. Eckert's use of exact dates, including days of the week, are a welcome baseline to readers of history. Too often, historical narratives are written without enough linkage to dates. Eckert's use of them is brilliant, and provides the integral thread to the work.

Any additional comments?

Eckert's prologue claims that the entire book is authentic history. Much may be, but some of the story wanders from fact. Example: Chief Blue Jacket was not the captured/adpoted son of a white settler; DNA tests on his progeny have proven that he was of Indian derivation. Tthat the prologue and the product differ, muddies an otherwise brilliant work.

Simon Kenton & Tecumseh - Bravery & Honor

Would you listen to The Frontiersmen again? Why?

I own and read this book and enjoyed listening to the recording as well. It makes it convenient to be able to listen to the reading of this book and do so when I am doing other activities such as work or 'chillaxing'. I will forever cherish this book (& recording) and its story as it is allegedly based on actual journals, etc. The Narrator, Kevin Foley, did an excellent job reading, expressing, characterizing, and changing his voice to each of the characters of the book as he read it. I would enjoy listening to other recordings that Kevin Foley has recorded.

What other book might you compare The Frontiersmen to and why?

I cannot say any thus far to compare to though I have read some of the historical fictions that the author: James Alexander Thom, had authored such as 'Follow the River", "Long Knife", etc. I enjoy early history, such as Louis & Clark, Simon Kenton, Tecumseh, Blue Jacket, Simon Girty, Ulysses S. Grant, Johnny Logan, to name several.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were so many suspenseful events throughout this book so I do not have any one favorite, there were many I favored as it kept me in suspense throughout front to back.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I would say before I read this book I always envisioned or assumed the Native Americans were ruthless but I always equally assumed the newly establish America (Americans) were or could be just as ruthless. I was impressed to hear how Christianity was established among some tribes and sad to hear that many were killed and possibly murdered for no apparent reasons except for being a native american.

Any additional comments?

Other authors I look forward to reading their books are: James Dickey (Deliverance), Allan W. Eckert (Blue Jacket, War Chief of the Shawnees, The Frontiersmen, Johnny Logan, Shawnee Spy), ‎David McCullough (various), Shelby Foote (Civil war, etc.)

one of my favorite

i love this book even more so because i live in the area it talks about. i reread it every couple of years.

My Favorite Book

Great Book! I love the way the author takes history and can write it in a bastion of a novel which makes it very readable and interesting. Even though it is all history as it really happened and the people were real people back in that time it has the readability and interest as the novel. I can't say enough good about this book, it should be a must-read on everybody's book list. You'll love it.

Great story about a real man

Would you consider the audio edition of The Frontiersmen to be better than the print version?

Yes I think this is better than the print version as the reader does not have to struggle with the unique native american names which can really slow a person down

Which character – as performed by Kevin Foley – was your favorite?

Simon Kenton just for the pure fact that he was a man among men who was larger than life but lived up to that

Any additional comments?

It is a long listen but really does move along well.

Great Historical N/F Novel

i really enjoyed the story about the lives of Simon Kenton (Butler), Tecumseh & his prophet brother, Simon Girdy, Danny Boone, Blue Jacket, President Harrison, Little Turtle, Black Hoof & others. i enjoyed the narrator so much i searched and got another of his books this month. It is brutally honest & violent but a great book if you're interested in the lives of important people in the settlement of the "Old Northwest" & the Myaami/Shawnee rebellion during that time.

Excellent!

I have read the Frontiersmen probably 10 times. As a radio professional for almost 30 years, some narrations can sometimes feel “over the top.”

Listening to Kevin Foley made the experience come alive in a way I have never experienced. It in some ways felt like in was watching “Tecumseh,” but focusing on Simon Kenton, Tecumseh, and Blue Jacket.

Foley is a fantastic narrator and I will recommend anything he does!

why isn't this a movie or Netflix series?

An I credible story that needs broader telling! we hear about Daniel Boone... but not Simon Kenton (Butler). he is FAR more interesting

One of the best books I have ever listened to.

I don't know if everything is accurate but it makes me want to find out more.

Outstanding historical novel

For anyone interested in the Ohio frontier and the settlement of the Ohio River Valley this is a very entertaining and historical book. You very much get a feel for what it would’ve been like to live in explore at this time and the narration quality was excellent