The Way to the West, and the Lives of Three Early Americans: Boone—Crockett—Carson

"The Way to the West and the Lives of Three Early Americans" by Emerson Hough is a historical narrative that examines America's westward expansion through the lives of Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and Kit Carson. The book looks at how the frontier shaped the American identity and underscores the importance of everyday objects used for survival and advancement. Opening the book, the author starts by examining the tools that helped early Americans survive and settle the West, describing tools like the American ax as being crucial in clearing land and building homes, representative of civilization itself. The opening chapters also discuss the significance of the American rifle and the birch-bark canoe, noting their usefulness in the daily lives of early Americans as they adventured into the unknown. Through these portrayals and observations, Hough sets the stage by connecting individual adventures with the larger historical movement westward.