Boone: A Biography

Separating fact from fiction in writing a biography of an iconic figure like Boone is a major challenge and Morgan is to be commended for this effort. It's unfortunate the several efforts Boone made to leave a personal account of his life were lost due to accidents and misadventures and later biographers were forced to rely on written records that may have been biased or based on hearsay.Morgan's research clears up many of the false assertions about Boone and gives us a closer look at the real man. His is not a blatant example of hero worship--he gives us the good and the bad about the man. There is the honest, considerate and loving family man; the lover of the wild who would inspire Emerson, Thoreau, Whitman; the soldier, who never unnecessarily took a life. There's the careless businessman, mired in debt and failing over and over again. There's also the irony of the hunter who shot game with no thought for tomorrow and the lover of wilderness who led others who would destroy the solitude and beauty he cherished.Boone obviously admired the Indian and their way of life, to the extent he was accused of treason and was able to overlook the murder of family and friends and the captivity of his favorite daughter and himself. Yet he was as culpable as others in the destruction of their society.Morgan gives the impression the Quaker Boones and their neighbors had no problems with the Native Americans while living in Pennsylvania. Though the Quakers and Moravians did enjoy peaceful relations with the native peoples for long periods of time, tensions were increasing before the Boones left Oley Township, Berks County, Pennsylvania.Land sales the Penns and their representatives negotiated with the Iroquois as early as the 1730s riled the Lenape/Delaware who claimed the same territory and influenced them to side with the French later in the strife known as the French and Indian War. Thanks to Conrad Weiser, a diplomat and interpreter, a peace was brokered in 1737 between the Iroquois and southern tribes, averting violence certain to have spilled over into Pennsylvania and Virginia.Morgan refers to Logan who, seeking revenge for the murder of his family, helped spark the 1774 Dunmore's War, as a Mingo. In fact, Logan (Tachnechdorus) was a son of Shikellamy, the Iroquois vice regent at Shamokin PA. Mingo is a corruption of the Lenape term "minqua," which can be interpreted as "treacherous."Aside from these minor quibbles, I'd say Morgan has done a wonderful job in presenting a Boone who truly deserves the fame society has granted him.

Didn't know much about Boone until reading this book. Really enjoyed it. If you're into American History read this book!

The book is painfully slow . Until the last 3rd of book. Very good

Robert Morgan has produced one of the best written books I have read. From beginning to end, I was captivated by his choice of language and description, which were as well written as the stories he related. When an author writes well enough to get his reader emotionally involved in the story to the extent that the reader grieves at the death of the central character (who died 189 years ago), you know you have a well written book. When I began reading, I was not seeking to find a "hero" in Daniel Boone, nor was I seeking to find hidden flaws in his character. When I had finished, I found myself a profound admirer of a man who had a sufficient supply of flaws and weaknesses, but who was above all, a man of sensitivity, courage, and integrity. And, having investigated the other writings of this author, I find myself very disappointed that there are not more of his books for me to find and read in the realm of history. (He has a good number of writings in the area of fiction to read, if you are interested in them.) Boone: A Biography (Shannon Ravenel Books)  And, if Mr. Morgan should happen to read this review, I would encourage him to find another historical character and bring him/her to life. I recently described reading well-written history to a high school student (who finds reading history to be a boring waste of time), as like stepping into a time machine and visiting the past: you come away feeling like you have actually been there and experienced the event/person for yourself. I feel like I personally knew and walked with Daniel Boone. And, while I am not prone to elevate mere human beings to the status of "hero", I highly recommend him as worthy of hero status. Also, thanks to Robert Morgan, my view of that part of American history will never be the same for me. Thank you, Mr. Morgan. I rate this book as extremely worthy of the time it will take you to read it.Tom Fenton,Kenton County, Kentucky

At 538 pages Boone: A Biography is a terrific read. Robert Morgan, better known for his insightful and sensitive novels proves that he can turn his masterful storytelling ability to the nonfiction realm as well.Boone: A Biography isn't easy to put down. If I called Boone a page turner it would be as much a statement about the life of the subject as it would be about Robert Morgans writing ability. Lets face it, Daniel Boone lived a life full of risk taking. He pushed the boundaries of the civilized world back and in doing so lived on the edge.Born with a wondering spirit, Daniel showed his love of the woods around his Pennsylvania home at a very early age. Disappearing for long stretches at a time he explored, observed, and learned the ways of nature. He learned the ways of wild things, a gift that would later save his life many times.One of the things a good biography does is tell the back story....the times the main character lived in. Morgan does a terrific job in letting us see Daniel Boone and the culture he came from. It was a rough time. The people on the frontier were beat up by life in general. Only the strong survived; the weak didn't make it. Cruel yes, but the country was better off for this reality. When James, Boone's son was tortured and killed by Indians, Daniel accepted the loss and then moved on. We of the twentyfirst century have a hard time dealing with that type of stoicism.Wonderfully written, well researched, filled with copius notes, Boone: A Biography should be a sure read on your short list. Robert Morgan also includes wonderful pieces of trivia/folk lore. For example, where the term "buck" for a dollar came from.Peace

Excellent read ! Exceptionally well written and detailed account of the life of Daniel Boone. I had no idea just how much of a contribution he made to the settlement of "The West". It's a book you will want to read again ... I know I will.One of the best books I've read in a while !Lindsay !

Wouldn’t download to,kindle properly