Daniel Boone: The Life and Legend of an American Pioneer

John Mack Faragher believes that he was an American so steeped in legend and myth that while his name is known to all he is completely misunderstood. Faragher seeks to draw a portrait of Boone the man, minus the legend and myth, and his work is a wonderful reassessment of this iconic American hero. What we learn is that Boone was fine frontiersman who enjoyed the forests and the natural environment of Kentucky. He had a genuine affinity with the Shawnee Indians, with whom he had much in common but fought repeatedly and eventually helped to vanquish from the region. Boone was at his best when he was able to demonstrate a natural courage in the face of adversity, whether it be in fighting the Shawnee or in confronting other enemies. He had ambitions as a land speculator and entrepreneur but never made it work. He made and lost several fortunes in his lifetime. The Daniel Boone of this biography is neither the intrepid loner of legend nor the larger than life frontiersman. He was essentially a family man who tried to ensure his place in the economy of Revolutionary America, going to the frontier to do so, and securing an inheritance for his children. Even-tempered and intelligent, if not well-educated, Boone was a man out for the "main chance." In dangerous times he rose to the occasion, as in the siege of Boonesborough in 1778, his captivity by the Shawnee for several months, and the rescue of his daughter Jemima and Betsy and Fanny Calloway from Indians when they were abducted. Faragher does a fine job in separating the fact from the fiction of Boone's life, and this is an elegant and entertaining as well as illuminating book. If you have any interest whatsoever in the life of Daniel Boone this is the book to start with in learning about his remarkable life on the American frontier.

Here is your chance to read a very fair assessment on the life of Daniel Boone. Dr. Faragher does a wonderful job in debunking the myths while still preserving the relevance of Boone's life. Boone's life was remarkable in its contrast to today's society. It was not unusual for Boone to go on a long hunt and not see his family for 3 months. Living on the frontier created chalenges taht would be unimaginable to todays "Civilization". Boone, for example, had his share struggles with local Indian Tribes, but Faragher refutes the myth that Boone was an Indian hater/killer. He was simply a man who tried to live a life on the frontier. In general, I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in Boone or the pioneers of the frontier. Be warned, however, this is an academic approach to Boone's life. Some readers may be turned off by Faragher balanced look at Boone's life that seperates fact from myth. If you are looking for tall tales about the Boone legend you may want to keep on searching.

This book not only gives an accurate history Daniel Boone, but shows what life was like for the first pioneers who were courageous enough to venture past the Applacian Mountains. Daniel Boone's true history is so exciting and interesting that the myths about him are unnecessary. This book does a good job of portraying his real history and debunking the myths. I highly recommend this book for those interested in what was going on in the western frontiers of the colonies while they were at war for independence from England.