The Davy Crockett craze of the mid-50’s was a bit before my time. But as a child in the early 60’s I do remember the echo of it all, from the repeats of the television show to the frontier section of Disneyland. The actor Fess Parker built a career around it, playing both Davy Crockett and Daniel Boone on different television series (the later in the 60’s, more my time). The myth of Davy Crockett — the swashbuckling anti-establishment self-made man — fit the post-war years in America, when it was important to be independent, visionary, and manly.

But David Crockett by Michael Wallis takes some of the veneer off the legend without emasculating a historical hero. David Crockett (he seldom went by Davy) was an incredible person and the truth of his life deserves our attention. Wallis’ honors that, perhaps even treating the legend with kid gloves at times. But that’s okay, because he doesn’t shy away from the truth even when it detracts from the hero.

This is a fun book, full of adventure and what one might call tall tales (that happen to be true). But it is also a well researched historical account of a fascinating person. Crockett’s legendary bear hunts, incredible eye for shooting, ability to lambast the political world, tough stance against Andrew Jackson, and of course his death at the Alamo are all true. There’s no need to Disney-up the character.

A good book. If you love American history, you’ll enjoy it.