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Allan W. Eckert
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The Frontiersmen: A Narrative Hardcover – March 1, 2001

by Allan W. Eckert (Author)
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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 which 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 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 recreated 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 eighteenth 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 Allan Eckert's hands, reveals most profoundly the grandeur and the tragedy of the American Indian.

No less importantly, The Frontiersmen is the story of wilderness America itself, its penetration and settlement, and it is Eckert's particular grace to be able to evoke life and meaning from the raw facts of this story. In The Frontiersmen not only do we care about our long-forgotten fathers, we live again with them.

Researched for seven years, The Frontiersmen is the first in Mr. Eckert's "The Winning of America" series.

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  1. Book 1 of 2
    The Frontiersmen
  2. Print length
    626 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Publisher
    Jesse Stuart Foundation
  5. Publication date
    March 1, 2001
  6. Dimensions
    6.75 x 1.75 x 9.25 inches
  7. ISBN-10
    0945084900
  8. ISBN-13
    978-0945084907
  9. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Jesse Stuart Foundation; 1st edition (March 1, 2001)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 626 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0945084900
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0945084907
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.25 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.75 x 1.75 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:

About the author

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Allan W. Eckert

Allan W. Eckert

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Allan W. Eckert, seven-time Pulitzer Prize nominee, has written 39 books, including his award-winning Incident at Hawk's Hill and The Frontiersman, plus numerous other historical narratives, novels and non-fiction works, as well as books for young adults and children.

Customer reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars
1,890 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book intriguing, riveting, and entertaining. They also say it's historically accurate and well-researched. Readers describe the writing as well-written and easy to read. They appreciate the information quality, saying it's insightful and eye-opening. They mention the characters are vibrant and excellent. Customers also appreciate the visual quality, mentioning it's sublime and touching.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Select to learn more
ReadabilityHistorical accuracyWriting qualityInformation qualityCharacter developmentVisual qualityValue for moneyDifficulty to put down
344 customers mention "Readability"344 positive0 negative

Customers find the book intriguing, riveting, and entertaining. They also describe it as an amazing, thrilling narrative of life on the early frontier along the Ohio River. Readers praise the author's gifted narrative and command of history.

"...It's told as a narrative so is highly entertaining.If you ever wondered who Tecumseh really was, this is a must read." Read more

"...history, particularly the western expansion, this is a must read series of 6 books...." Read more

"...I have read all his books and this is the best of all of them. I bought this for a friend. Hurry before these go out of print." Read more

"...Despite the liberties taken with the narrative, the overall gist of the story is accurate and the events did take place, even if some of the..." Read more

133 customers mention "Historical accuracy"133 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fascinating, with tons of historical information packaged in a gripping narrative. They say it's fairly historically accurate and inspiring. Readers also mention the book is filled with battles and conflicts.

"This is the most fascinating history book I've ever read. It tells you what really happened in a key set of formative years for the usa...." Read more

"...books on the life of Daniel Boone, I can say that the book is fairly historically accurate and would recommend it to anyone interested in the early..." Read more

"This is a solid book on American history and what it took to build our country west along the Ohio River valley and areas extending south into..." Read more

"Excellent book. I reread it occasionallyHad lots of local history fir area where I live" Read more

107 customers mention "Writing quality"94 positive13 negative

Customers find the writing quality of the book very good. They say it's readable, pulls them in from the start, and is easy to read. Readers also mention the book does an amazing job of describing both sides of the story. They appreciate the great details and mention the book doesn't provide a high-level overview.

"...It's not a high level overview. It gets into the nitty gritty details down to exactly what torture methods were used by the whites and Indians...." Read more

"...Very well written!!! I only wish I could have found a leather bound edition." Read more

"...Inspiring and easy reading for anyone looking for a great story." Read more

"...Well-researched, well-written, a real page-turner. The book is filled with battles and conflicts. It is an extremely violent story, but a true one...." Read more

80 customers mention "Information quality"80 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very well-researched, well-documented, and informative. They say it's a successful blend of mostly fact and a little bit of "supposing" to make an eye-opening understanding of America's declining. Readers also say the book is thorough and detailed.

"...It was riveting reading page after page and so educational on what it took for the whites to develop territories occupied by the Indians...." Read more

"...Well-researched, well-written, a real page-turner. The book is filled with battles and conflicts. It is an extremely violent story, but a true one...." Read more

"...Nevertheless, it succeeds in breathing life into the era and, if many of the characters seem somewhat thin and almost to blend into a certain..." Read more

"...of life on the early frontier along the Ohio River and incorporates some prodigious research into a slice of early American history that I was..." Read more

30 customers mention "Character development"21 positive9 negative

Customers find the characters vibrant, excellent, and outstanding. They say the author does a fair portrayal of different points of view. Readers also mention the book is compelling and based on a real person.

"Allen W Eckart is one of the best writers of historical novels there is, may he rest in peace...." Read more

"...Nevertheless, this is a thoroughly compelling biography of famed explorer Simon Kenton...." Read more

"...The book is filled with battles and conflicts. It is an extremely violent story, but a true one...." Read more

"This true story is astonishing, and is rich with detail and side characters...." Read more

17 customers mention "Visual quality"14 positive3 negative

Customers find the book's visual quality sublime. They say it has good detail on conflicts with the Indians, touching images, and a coherent picture. Readers also mention the book provides an insightful picture of the making of America and life on the early frontier.

"...His heroes are all strapping, handsome men and beautiful, winsome women. The dialogue is pure fiction. But all in all a good read." Read more

"...not the struggle to read that a history book is, but it gives a much more coherent picture of what really happened...." Read more

"...of our original Natives are grounded in nature; their spoken images are really touching & sensitive...." Read more

"A well researched look into the early days of the American frontier, personalized with some famous names and some less than famous names...." Read more

13 customers mention "Value for money"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book a great read at a great price. They say it's worth every second, and an excellent account of a little-known frontiersman.

"...A great read at a great price but I did find a slight fault with the quality of this publication created by Jesse Stuart Foundation...." Read more

"This book is an excellent account if the post Civil War era of rapid US westward expansion told from the viewpoint of an actual era hero with deep..." Read more

"...Great condition, excellent packaging, timely shipping, good price." Read more

"...this book but took me longer than usual as it was long but was well worth it." Read more

16 customers mention "Difficulty to put down"8 positive8 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the book. Some mention it's hard to put down and difficult to follow, while others say it's tedious and hard to follow.

"...I can't wait to read the rest in the serious. Daunting, absolutely. Worth the time invested, YES!" Read more

"This book is pretty tedious. The characters failed to hold my interest as they were generally predictable and uninspiring...." Read more

"...this book onto my new Kindle and found it much easier to navigate back and forth to the footnotes than in my hard copy of the same book." Read more

"I liked the book, but it got a little tedious towards the end...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

Adam R. Bruss
5.0 out of 5 stars Best history book
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2024
Verified Purchase
This is the most fascinating history book I've ever read. It tells you what really happened in a key set of formative years for the usa. It's not a high level overview. It gets into the nitty gritty details down to exactly what torture methods were used by the whites and Indians. It's told as a narrative so is highly entertaining.

If you ever wondered who Tecumseh really was, this is a must read.
2 people found this helpful
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Douglas M. Walker
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read series!
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2024
Verified Purchase
If you’re a fan of early American history, particularly the western expansion, this is a must read series of 6 books. The author exhaustively research personal journals, military records, and government papers to obtain the most factual storyline to his narrative story. Very well written!!! I only wish I could have found a leather bound edition.
2 people found this helpful
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W. S. S.
5.0 out of 5 stars You won’t be able to put this down!
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2024
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Allen W Eckart is one of the best writers of historical novels there is, may he rest in peace. I have read all his books and this is the best of all of them. I bought this for a friend. Hurry before these go out of print.
One person found this helpful
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Philosopher
4.0 out of 5 stars History comes alive
Reviewed in the United States on October 26, 2013
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For the person who has not read this book, I would make a disclaimer. While Eckert claims that this book is "fact, not fiction", the reader should know that the author takes a lot of liberty with regard to the narrative. Eckert acknowledges this to some degree in the introduction, though I think he understates the degree to which he invents dialogue and makes assumptions given the scarcity of detailed records on certain events.

Nevertheless, this is a thoroughly compelling biography of famed explorer Simon Kenton. Despite the liberties taken with the narrative, the overall gist of the story is accurate and the events did take place, even if some of the details are inaccurate.

My 5th great grandfather traveled with John Hinkson to the South fork of the Licking River in 1776, where Kenton helped erect a blockhouse. He was also among those captured at the seige at Ruddles' Station (formerly Hinkson's Station) in 1780. Having researched these events and having read several books on the life of Daniel Boone, I can say that the book is fairly historically accurate and would recommend it to anyone interested in the early exploration and settlement of America.
2 people found this helpful
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K. Lotter
5.0 out of 5 stars Great History of mid-18th Century America in Kentucky and Ohio Territories
Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2013
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This is a solid book on American history and what it took to build our country west along the Ohio River valley and areas extending south into Kentucky and north into current Ohio up to Lake Erie. It was riveting reading page after page and so educational on what it took for the whites to develop territories occupied by the Indians.

Like most historical books on Kindle I found the maps to be poor representations of what good maps should be. The print size is tiny and the topographical representations of poor quality making it difficult to follow the reading when the geography was so important. I had to resort to using my 2011 Rand McNally road map which helped but was not accurate in many cases.

I definitely recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn about the development of America in the mid-18th century. You definitely will know much more about what type of people settled in the Ohio River valley, what strengths they had to have and the hardships they had to endure. Further, you will get to learn about the Indians, the many tribes in the territories, their way of life, religion, customs, mores, physical strengths, endurance and ability to analyze social developments including problems created by the whites. Allan Eckert is truly an expert on these subjects and communicates in a manner easy to read and understand.

Ken Lotter
One person found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars ThecFrontirrsman
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2024
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Excellent book. I reread it occasionally
Had lots of local history fir area where I live
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Robert R. Fisher
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent History Narrative
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2012
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First, great praise for Eckert for his gifted narrative and command of history. His knowledge of both the facts and the human/emotional history of the period makes the Frontiersmen a pure pleasure to read.

The setting of this book is the settlement period of the upper Ohio river valley between the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, but it is the characters, both well known and obscure that breathe life into the story. The reader follows the amazing story of Simon Kenton, an early frontiersman who's acts of bravery and singular ability to survive are almost unbelievable. Note: as a young history student in Ohio, my 7th grade teacher introduced us to Simon Kenton by describing his running of the gauntlet.

Much of the first half focuses on the early life of Kenton and his introduction to the "west." The second half takes off as the conflicts between the settlers and the Native Americans come to a climax with the rise of Tecumseh and his unbalanced brother and their plans to retake lands lost through wars and treaties.

Having lived and hiked (and ridden my mtn bike) through thousands of miles of the places described in this book, I am amazed how many locations are still far from the cities and easy to sit and imagine how they must have looked in the late 1700's. I would recommend the Wayne National forest near Logan, OH and the Daniel Boone National Forest near Morehead, KY.

Inspiring and easy reading for anyone looking for a great story.
2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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R. Slater
5.0 out of 5 stars An epic struggle.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 3, 2021
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History of the American frontier is what this book is all about. About the struggles not only of those pioneer frontiersmen but the Indians themselves. I’ve given it five stars for the content itself. But I did find it at times a struggle to keep reading it to the end. Which I am pleased to say I did.
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Mark O'Neill
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding read
Reviewed in Australia on September 3, 2022
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Allan W Eckert brings the reality of frontier living, with all of its hardships and adversity, to life.
An amazing read and one that I thoroughly enjoyed.
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MurPhil
5.0 out of 5 stars Historians' Delight
Reviewed in Canada on April 7, 2014
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This book has been around for quite a while, along with 4 of its sequels. In this reviewer's opinion, this first book is by far the most fascinating of the 5 in the series. It is probably one of the best kept secrets as an mesmerizing depiction of the lfe and times of all North Americans during the French And Indian Wars of the mid-1700s. Virtually all of the content in this book consists of narratives based on actual historical events, documents and personal letters of those who lived and fought in those times, including the aboriginals. Hence, it is not fictional history, except for some of the dialogue the author has crafted to give life to the events. A must read for any history buff.
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Konrad from Bavaria
5.0 out of 5 stars dick aber lesenswert
Reviewed in Germany on July 23, 2012
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Vor dem Umfang bin erst mal zurückgeschreckt, habe das Buch nun fast durch und empfehle es gerne weiter.
Voraussetzung: höheres Interesse am Thema, die nötige Zeit und Freude am "Tagebuchstil".
Dann liefert es jede Menge an Informationen und diese stehen im Vordergrund!
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robert g edmonds
5.0 out of 5 stars Like other Eckert books I have read it is excellent
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 28, 2014
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Have not READ book yet, but have heard it on audio. Like other Eckert books I have read it is excellent.
A fantastic insight into little heard American history.
One person found this helpful
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