Davy Crockett has long been revered as an American folk hero. In this facsimile edition of his original 1834 autobiography, Crockett gives readers "a plain, honest, homespun account of my state in life," while editors James Shackford and Stanley Folsmbee author a critical introduction that traces his influence on American cultural memory and tracks his place among folk heroes of the ages.

David Crockett (1786-1836) was an American folk hero, frontiersman, soldier, and politician. He is often referred to in popular culture as the "King of the Wild Frontier". Crockett grew up in East Tennessee, where he gained a reputation for hunting and storytelling. After a tumultuous career in politics, he infamously volunteered to fight in the Battle of the Alamo and was killed. Crockett became famous during his lifetime for larger-than-life exploits, and after his death he continued to be credited with acts of mythical proportion.