Simon Kenton, Kentucky Scout

"Simon Kenton, Kentucky Scout" by Thomas D. Clark is an excellent book for young readers. My first attempt to read it, however, was met with frustration, because I was expecting a literate, historical account designed for a serious reader and student of history. That desire was met by another book, "Simon Kenton, His Life And Period", by Edna Kenton, which marvelously filled that need. However, some time later, I returned to Clark's book, determined to read it to the end. This time, I found it a very interesting and well written treatise, but one that is closer to the classification of historical fiction than that of true history. "Kentucky Scout" reads like many made-for-television movies that add filler to what is known, in order to produce a more readable story. Nothing in the filler was historically inaccurate, but some of it gave the feel of a novel. It is, indeed, very readable, and I am glad that I went back to it. As an adult level history book, I was disappointed. It reads in places as a sanitized and politically correct history, devoid of the full impact of Kenton's life and actions, as well as that of most of the terror of Indian and pioneer cruelty and injustice. Also watered down was British participation in many of the massacres, which was mentioned, but under-covered. Clark does, however, give a credible and realistic description of Kenton's capture and torture at the hands of the Shawnee. In all, it was a pleasure to read, and one that I highly recommend for young people, especially, and for adults seeking an entertaining overview of a great man.

This book is so good I read it twice ! Over 600 pages. Excellent book of real history !!

Among historians in Kentucky the name Thomas D. Clark is almost as important as Simon Kenton. Clark has had a remarkably long and fruitful career as a historian in Kentucky. Too many historians after a long career of teaching and writing history will retire into anonymity, but not Thomas Clark. Many years after the age when most people retire, Clark wrote a book about a frontiersman who first came into Kentucky when it was known as the Hostile West. This story of Kenton will not only come alive for adults, but could also be enjoyed by younger readers due to the audience that Clark had in mind when putting this history together. When first learning about the history of our nation, Kentucky students learn about the great military leaders of Virginia, and the men of the North East who dared to dream of being great political leaders, etc; It is hard to find a book that a young reader can sit down with and read about a person who will forever be known as a great Kentuckian. The life of Simon Kenton was not polished up by Clark and made into a politically correct story that will fit perfectly into our historical revisionistic modern textbooks. Clark doesn't cover up the fact that Kenton killed Indians, stole horses and guns, and took land away from people who certainly had rights to this beautiful hunting ground; this is REAL history, and it is written for an audience that may not otherwise hear this story. All young people, not only those who live in Kentucky, should learn about the life of Simon Kenton. Like Simon Kenton, Thomas D. Clark will forever be known as a great Kentuckian.