Allan W. Eckert Books In Order

Publication Order of Earth Treasures Non-Fiction Books

Publication Order of Hawk's Hill Books

Publication Order of Mesmerian Annals Books

Publication Order of Winning of America/Narratives of America Books

Publication Order of Allan W. Eckert Standalone Novels

Publication Order of Allan W. Eckert Standalone Plays

Publication Order of Allan W. Eckert Non-Fiction Books

Author Allan Wesley Eckert was born on January 30, 1931 in Buffalo, New York; he grew up in Chicago, Illinois. When he was just a young man, he hitched rides across the United States; throughout all of his travels, he learned about wildlife and lived off of the land. When he was only thirteen years old, he started writing about nature and the history of America. He went to college close to Bellefontaine, Ohio, and spent a long time living in this town. He died while he was sleeping on July 7, 2011 in Corona, California, a little under six months after he turned eighty.

Allan has written the “Hawk’s Hill” series, the “Winning of America” series, and the “Mesmerian Annals” series. It was in the year 1963 when he became a published author when “The Great Auk” was released; this novel documented how the great auk died off and became extinct. Seven of the books that he wrote got Pulitzer Prize nominations. His work was from the historical fiction category and they were meant for either children or adults. He and Toni Morrison were voted Favorite Ohio Writer of All Time from a poll that was conducted in the year 1999 by Ohioana Library Association.

Besides writing novels, he also wrote many screenplays, that were not produced, and well over two hundred episodes of “Mutual of Omaha’s Wild Kingdom”. For his work on this series, he won an Emmy Award. The series included stories from frontiersmen and Native Americans that were notable (one example would be Tecumseh). He also wrote a play called “Tecumseh!”, which was an outdoor production, that celebrated 25 years of production at Sugarloaf Mountain Amphitheater (which is close to Chillicothe, Ohio) in the year 1997.

“Incident at Hawk’s Hill” was a runner up for a Newbery Medal in the year 1972, and then adapted into a television movie by Disney with the title of “The Boy Who Talked to Badgers” in the year 1975.

“The Frontiersmen” is the first novel in the “Winning of America” series and was released in the year 1967. The Indians get driven out of where they live, and fought like hell to keep their last stronghold east of the Mississippi River. They have strength, skill, savage cunning, and they know the wilderness; these are their weapons and what they will use to beat the white men.

They did not have the ability to see that there would be white men that would come and love the land just as much as them and wanted the land to be theirs. Not only that, but they learned everything the Indians used and matched them in the brutality department.

The book will take you back to a certain point in history, and will even change how you view American history. There is a story created around factual events. Some were left in sheer awe of how well our ancestors were able to survive. Fans of the novel like the way that this is actually history in a novel, which is unique, because it is not actually historical fiction. It is, instead, true to what really happened way back when.

“Wilderness Empire” is the second novel in the “Winning of America” series and was released in the year 1968. There was not a single force the Indians had that was feared and powerful as the Iroquois League in America. And they reigned for two hundred years. Just saying that the Iroquois were coming on two thirds of the continent was all it took to make entire tribes demoralized.

These are the Iroquois that controlled and covered a large empire in the wilderness that called to foreign powers like it was a precious gem.

England and France were able to get some toe holds, and they started claiming that this was their land, not the Iroquois. The key to it all, was alliance with Indians; the power that was able to control them, could ruin the other one.

This is an author that clearly understands what was going on during this period, and is able to engage and immerse his readers through his writing. These historical figures really come to life, which is something that cannot be easy for an author to do. The historical events are presented like a fictional story in a masterful way. As do the violent battles that happened during battles, and what happens to prisoners that are taken. Fans of the novel found it hard to put this down, as they were compelled by all of the characters, no matter which banner was theirs. Some liked reading about people from American history that they had no idea actually existed.

“The Conquerors” is the third novel in the “Winning of America” series and was released in the year 1970. Moving westward from where the first two books in the series were set. It is Pontiac’s uprising and all of the men that were involved in it: the English who had conquering in mind, and the civilians and soldiers. Both of which went through all of the dangers the Indian trade posed to make coin; not to mention, the adventure involved with opening up a new land. The Indians, who had a lot of trouble accepting the lot of being conquered, and were pushed to be violent to keep their homes and the way they were living. Especially from those encroaching who were alien to them.

This was an easy and interesting read for some, especially due to the fact they live near where the story is set. The author did a great job writing and researching the book, it makes the book a great read, despite the length. Fans of the novel like that the Ottawa war chief was almost able to strike a deal that would have expelled the white man from America made things riveting. Allan was also relentless in the horrors that happened to those that were in the natives’ way. Some are blown away how well this author is able to bring things to life, time and time again. Readers even like how he blends fictional type techniques with those of nonfiction. Some found that they wanted to read more of the series, after reading this one.

One Response to “Allan W. Eckert”

1. CLYDE MCGEE: 2 years ago

   Having a bachelor’s degree in history and an Ohio native, I have thoroughly enjoyed reading his book’s especially; THAT DARK & BLOOY RIVR. MY ONLY REGRET IS THAT I DID NOT GET TO MEET ALLEN PERSONALLY!

   THE REV. DR. CLYDE A. McGEE

   Reply