The Accidental Fame and Lack of Fortune of West Tennessee's David Crockett

n nExperience the thrilling journey of West Tennessee's David Crockett as he rises from frontier to fame to international icon.n n nn nUsing his wits, sense of humor, and common sense, David Crockett rose from the West Tennessee frontier during the divisive Jacksonian Era to become the first American celebrity.n n nn nEarly newspaper editors quickly found that his name and exploits-often exaggerated-led to increased sales, while the first biography about his life, printed while he was still living, became an instant bestseller. He even brokered some of the first licensing deals that reproduced his image and signature on prints and made them available to his fans.n n nn nTalented men and women who were creating the American arts from scratch found in Crockett a muse who reflected how many in the country wanted to see themselves. They put him in books, plays, songs, and poems. Then, Americans made him a superhero.n n nn nAnd there was substance to his style. As a member of Congress, he had a front-row seat as second and third generations of Americans took the torch of Democracy from the country's founding fathers and mothers and struggled to keep it burning. His list of friends and enemies was long and included notables like Andrew Jackson, Sam Houston, Henry Clay, and James K. Polk.n n nn nAs with celebrities who would come later like James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley, Crockett's tragic death would occur too early and fuel his transition from celebrity to icon. Decades later, Walt Disney introduced his own version of Davy and ignited a licensed product phenomenon unlike anything that had ever been seen before and rarely since.n n nn nIn The Accidental Fame and Lack of Fortune of West Tennessee's David Crockett, R. Scott Williams uncovers what propelled this meteoric rise from frontier to fame, while also examining the birth of Tennessee during one of the most fascinating periods in American history.n n nn