The Autobiography of Davy Crockett: A Narrative of the Life of an American Folk Hero

David Crockett

Nov 2023 · DigiCat

About this ebook

"In the following pages I have endeavoured to give the reader a plain, honest, homespun account of my state in life, and some few of the difficulties which have attended me along its journey, down to this time. I am perfectly aware, that I have related many small and, as I fear, uninteresting circumstances; but if so, my apology is, that it was rendered necessary by a desire to link the different periods of my life together, as they have passed, from my childhood onward, and thereby to enable the reader to select such parts of it as he may relish most, if, indeed, there is any thing in it which may suit his palate."

About the author

David 'Davy' Crockett (1786–1836) was a celebrated 19th-century American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier, and politician, often remembered for his larger-than-life exploits. His autobiography, 'The Autobiography of Davy Crockett', is a seminal work that provides a first-hand account of Crockett's life, from his humble beginnings in Tennessee to his role as a congressman and his participation in the Texas Revolution. Crockett's narrative is imbued with his distinctive humor, vernacular speech, and a flair for embellishment that has greatly contributed to his legendary status. It offers not just a personal history but also a window into the American frontier experience of the early 1800s. Crockett's writing style is characterized by a straightforward, unpretentious tone that endeared him to his contemporaries and continues to captivate readers today. His autobiography is considered an important document in the study of American folklore and the development of the autobiographical genre in American literature. Beyond literature, Crockett's life has had a lasting impact on American pop culture, from the coonskin cap that has become synonymous with his name to the various portrayals of his persona in television and film. Crockett's legacy endures as a symbol of American individualism and adventure.