This understanding comes from studying the places that make up history, Jones said.
“By standing there and knowing where this event took place and where the next one takes place, you get a real appreciation for the landscape across which the story unfolded and you begin to appreciate the distances that these people were traveling,” Jones said.
Jones thinks readers may be surprised by the distances Boone traveled in his life.
“Daniel Boone was born in Pennsylvania and he died in Missouri, and the two biggest surprises in between are that he was a prisoner of war at Fort Detroit and he also bought land in Florida,” Jones said.
Jones said Boone lived before the widespread use of the steam engine, so he used his physical power to traverse the states.
“Everywhere he went was on foot, horseback or canoe, so it was all muscle power,” Jones said.
Annie Newton, program coordinator for The Alliance for Historic Hillsborough, said her favorite aspect of Jones’ book is how he brings historical accuracy to the forefront.
“We’ve got this very famous figure that was living here,” Newton said. “He is this larger-than-life legend, and all around the state people say ‘He was here!’ ‘He was here!’ and Jones tries to speak to the truth and facts of what Boone actually did within the state.”
Newton said Jones is able to separate the truth about Boone from the tall tales and folklore about him.
“He cuts through the legend part to talk about how he was a real person,” Newton said. “He brings humanity to this larger-than-life figure.”
The book talk is part of a larger program that Historic Hillsborough is coordinating.
“We had a talk at the Orange County Public Library on Sept. 30, we’re doing another at Flyleaf, and then we’re doing this big celebration with lots of scholars and talks on the weekend of Oct. 12 and 13," Newton said.
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Newton hopes the events will shed light on North Carolina’s unique colonial history.
“North Carolina drew a lot of different groups,” Newton said. “We didn’t have these big plantations like South Carolina and Virginia, and it set us up to be a different type of colony than the ones I think get more of the historical focus. But we did play a large role in creating America to be what it became after the revolution.”
Newton said she thinks the events will also bring a touch of reality to legendary American figures.
“Daniel Boone is just a person, and a lot of times we forget that with these legends and heroes and American folk tales," Newton said. "Just like Boone, George Washington and Thomas Jefferson have become these icons that are perfect, but they’re not. They’re just people living in a different time period.”
Junior, Grace Sa, said she is excited about the book talk’s emphasis on re-examining history.
“I think it’s important to think critically about historical leaders, especially now, because the people who made them historic and put them in history books all had a bias,” Sa said. “It’s important to take a step back and re-evaluate the people we celebrate in history and why we do so.”
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