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[ The Borderland: A Novel of Texas By Shrake, Edwin B ( Author ) Hardcover 2000 ]
Everybody knows the story of the Alamo and the Texas victory over the Mexican army at San Jacinto, but the dramatic period that followed--the years when the Republic of Texas was not yet part of the United States--has largely been ignored. Edwin Shrake's novel makes up for that. The Borderland is set in 1839, three years after the Alamo fell. The fledgling Republic is down on its heels, desperate for money, short on organization, lacking structure and infrastructure, and still at war with Mexico. President Lamar, as much a poet as a politician, has a plan, by expanding the Republic to the Pacific, he can attract the frenzy--and cash--of land speculators. He begins by going up against his enemy, Sam Houston, and moving the capital of the Republic inland from Houston to a pristine river valley in central Texas--Comanche country--that gives birth to the new city of Austin. The repercussions are enormous. To begin with, it sets off the largest Comanche war party of all time. Weaving together a marvelous cast of characters, some real, some wholly created, Shrake renders a strong, often eerie portrait of life on the frontier and the horrors of frontier warfare. As Texas Ranger Captain Matthew Caldwell, known as "Old Paint" because of his spotted beard, leads a desperate, ragtag force against the Comanche warriors on the plains south of Austin, Romulus Swift, a half-Cherokee physician descended from Jonathan Swift, falls in love with Caldwell's young German Jewish immigrant bride. Swift is a mystical character--he's on a quest to find a mysterious, otherworldly-wise creature said to live in a cave full of Spanish gold; Caldwell is more a straight-ahead force of nature. When the two men, suspicious of each other from the get-go, must journey together into Comancheria, the palpable tension has as much to do with whether they'll kill each other as it does with whether they'll be able to make a truce with 2,000 Comanche warriors ready to wipe Austin out. Add to the mix Swift's sister, anxious to return to her Native American past after a society life in New York, and Henry Longfellow, a powerful, misogynistic, slave-holding politician who may be Texas's first serial killer, and The Borderland has the makings of a truly tall tale. Massive in scope, captivating in detail, and meticulous in its resurrection of history, Shrake's novel exhumes a forgotten era of Texas's past. --Roland Gregory
Hardcover
First published April 5, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
June 23, 2019
The Borderland is an old-fashioned, thoroughly researched, skillfully written, not to mention entertaining, historical novel set in Texas in 1839. The author, the late Edwin “Bud” Shrake, a native of Texas and one of its bigger-than-life, legendary writers, knew the history and geography of his state and through exhaustive research he also became acquainted with the people of that bygone era. As a result, he was able to intermingle fact and fiction and to intertwine historical and fictional characters without the story becoming stilted as is often the case with historical novels.
June 8, 2022
***SPOILER ALERT***
This book reminded me a lot of both Ivanhoe and Last of the Mohicans. I neglected to write a review for Ivanhoe, but I did write one for Last of the Mohicans
Just like in both of these novels, we have two couples. You have the Swift Siblings: Doc and Cullasaja. They are both half-Cherokee. Even though Matthew Caldwell, the Texas Ranger, is attracted to her, he makes no moves on her. He then falls in love with the German Jewish woman, Hannah, with whom he has contracted to marry. Doc is immediately attracted to Hannah, and she to him. So of course we have conflict.
However, you don't see Matthew struggle over his feelings for Cullasaja. He feels no shame for them. He doesn't see her as lesser even though he ends up opting for Hannah. Neither Matthew nor Doc have problems with the fact that Hannah is Jewish. The only main character who has problems with BOTH is the creepy pervert racist rapist, Henry Longfellow and honestly the less said about him the better.
Rublo was also an interesting character. I felt like he was built up to have an epic boss fight with Matthew Caldwell and then his storyline abruptly ended. This could have been done to cut the length of the novel down. I'm not sure, but it felt like a missed opportunity. I was also disappointed by the abrupt end of Cullasaja's storyline, however, it was believable.
What wasn't as believable was the end of Doc's storyline. For a man who beat a man to death for the thrill of it 8 years prior, I really can't believe that when he learned of his sister's death he didn't hunt down Longfellow to relieve him of his karmic burden. The author put down all the dots and connected them to make this WORK, but it did not feel believable...to me.
It's possible that there is also a struggle between the "good" natives (Cherokee) and the "bad" natives (Comanche). Though in all honesty even the Comanche are not bad, just different. Even Caldwell respects them and wants to deal fairly with them. And Lamar and his men hate them BOTH equally. So perhaps I'm just trying to force this to fit.
I feel like I can't even take credit for my brilliance here because the author did name drop BOTH book titles during the course of the book.
The author provides very vivid descriptions and has a very strong knowledge of Texas history during the Republic period. His descriptions of both Austin and San Antonio during this time period were phenomenal. ESPECIALLY Austin.
Although I was not fond of the character of Henry Longfellow, the author created a very realistic and believable character. As a reader I could even understand where he was coming from which was quite uncomfortable, but useful. The rest of his characters were also intriguing.
I look forward to reading more of this author's books. All my criticisms aside, it was a very engaging read and he is a phenomenal historical fiction author.
This book reminded me a lot of both Ivanhoe and Last of the Mohicans. I neglected to write a review for Ivanhoe, but I did write one for Last of the Mohicans
Just like in both of these novels, we have two couples. You have the Swift Siblings: Doc and Cullasaja. They are both half-Cherokee. Even though Matthew Caldwell, the Texas Ranger, is attracted to her, he makes no moves on her. He then falls in love with the German Jewish woman, Hannah, with whom he has contracted to marry. Doc is immediately attracted to Hannah, and she to him. So of course we have conflict.
However, you don't see Matthew struggle over his feelings for Cullasaja. He feels no shame for them. He doesn't see her as lesser even though he ends up opting for Hannah. Neither Matthew nor Doc have problems with the fact that Hannah is Jewish. The only main character who has problems with BOTH is the creepy pervert racist rapist, Henry Longfellow and honestly the less said about him the better.
Rublo was also an interesting character. I felt like he was built up to have an epic boss fight with Matthew Caldwell and then his storyline abruptly ended. This could have been done to cut the length of the novel down. I'm not sure, but it felt like a missed opportunity. I was also disappointed by the abrupt end of Cullasaja's storyline, however, it was believable.
What wasn't as believable was the end of Doc's storyline. For a man who beat a man to death for the thrill of it 8 years prior, I really can't believe that when he learned of his sister's death he didn't hunt down Longfellow to relieve him of his karmic burden. The author put down all the dots and connected them to make this WORK, but it did not feel believable...to me.
It's possible that there is also a struggle between the "good" natives (Cherokee) and the "bad" natives (Comanche). Though in all honesty even the Comanche are not bad, just different. Even Caldwell respects them and wants to deal fairly with them. And Lamar and his men hate them BOTH equally. So perhaps I'm just trying to force this to fit.
I feel like I can't even take credit for my brilliance here because the author did name drop BOTH book titles during the course of the book.
The author provides very vivid descriptions and has a very strong knowledge of Texas history during the Republic period. His descriptions of both Austin and San Antonio during this time period were phenomenal. ESPECIALLY Austin.
Although I was not fond of the character of Henry Longfellow, the author created a very realistic and believable character. As a reader I could even understand where he was coming from which was quite uncomfortable, but useful. The rest of his characters were also intriguing.
I look forward to reading more of this author's books. All my criticisms aside, it was a very engaging read and he is a phenomenal historical fiction author.
January 23, 2014
A decent story but in need of some serious editing. It was obviously written with a movie contract in mind; it reads more like a screenplay than a novel. The characters keep making strong choices that go against the author's descriptions of them and you wonder, "how did they get to that choice?" Anyone who has grown up in Texas will dismiss it as a bunch of baloney that pays only surface attention to Texas history. The repetitive reminders of immaterial details (President Lamar liked to wear baggy pants; Matthew Caldwell always wore fringed doe skin jackets and moccasins; Henry Longfellow looked like a bird) made me want to throw the book across the room with a loud, "Puh-leeze! Stop it with the repetition already!!!! I got it the first time."
I finished the book because I almost always do. But the climax of the story was anti-climactic and the resolution way too contrived. If you want well researched historical fiction about Texas -- books that read like history rather than sweet movie money --I would recommend authors Elizabeth Crook or Stephen Harrigan.
I finished the book because I almost always do. But the climax of the story was anti-climactic and the resolution way too contrived. If you want well researched historical fiction about Texas -- books that read like history rather than sweet movie money --I would recommend authors Elizabeth Crook or Stephen Harrigan.
October 15, 2020
As a native Texan born in Austin and whose Texas roots begin with my Great, Great Grandparents settling in Texas in 1835, with a Spanish land grant, how could I not love this book? Bud Shrake was a writer who could take historical fiction to a new level. His knowledge of Texas history and geography was great and enabled him to make the fiction of "The Borderland" a more interesting read. This is a book filled with humor, savagery, satire and not a little disdain for some of otherwise revered Texas heroes. Shrake was an interesting character whose life adventures could rival those of some of his characters. If you like the works of Larry McMurtry, Cormac McCarthy or James Carlos Blake as much as I do, you will enjoy this book.
January 3, 2015
Bud Shrake wrote a very fine novel about the beginnings of Texas. Some of it is crudely hilarious with an interspersement of raw violence. His treatment of the Indians seemed realistic. My great GMom was a Comanche and she could make A Pemmican and Maize stew just like that which is in this. If you like Lonesome Dove and are a Texas exceptionalist you'll like this. Remember the first word spoken on the moon were "HOUSTON". damn strait. He was also ann Richards "beard". At least I hope he was. You will like this tome. Read it.
April 19, 2010
This is one of the best westerns I have ever read, right up there with McMurtry's "Lonesome Dove," Guthrie's "The Way West," Bergers "Little Big Man" and the works of Elmer Kelton. I strongly recommend it!
August 16, 2007
interesting story of early texas; terribly written!
November 1, 2020
I can’t believe I haven’t known about this book. I followed Shrake’s sports columns for years. Anyway, very much in the way of McMurtry and Lonesome Dove but much grittier. And it’s really historical fiction that anyone familiar with Texas would love both for the fiction and the history, especially the history of Austin and Houston, the hill country and East Texas. Given the choice of bad guys it’s a toss-up between the savage white land grabbers and the savage Comanches and good guys is a relative thing. The language is rougher than McMurtry but gives what is probably the true picture of how life was between the Alamo and the Civil War. The other thing I can’t believe is that this has not been made into a mini-series (it’s too long for a movie probably without losing the details that make it so awesome). 5 stars – well worthwhile.
March 1, 2018
A page turning, laugh out loud good time! The early days of the Republic of Texas and the creation of Austin as a city and capital is the setting. Crazy characters both real (San Houston) and imaginary keep the action moving. Learned quite a lot about Texas too. Remember Lonesome Dove? Almost that good.
June 16, 2019
Perhaps I am too old to appreciate these newer so called western novels, it must be me at fault and not the book. Did not like any of the unreal characters, nor the beginning, middle or end. It was difficult to stick with it, should have set it down on first day. All the great westerns were written before 1950.
September 27, 2017
Compelling, with quite a bit of indulgent sex and violence.
I thought the man-ape of the spiritual dreams of the Cherokee and Comanche's would pay off more satisfyingly. I don't know what to make of that.
I thought the man-ape of the spiritual dreams of the Cherokee and Comanche's would pay off more satisfyingly. I don't know what to make of that.
July 5, 2019
The Wild West...Texas-style. A combination of fact and fiction and wonderful storytelling. Compelling characters and a love story frame what a hard, gritty and often violent life frontier people faced. Good read.
March 21, 2020
A different take on the life of Matthew Caldwell, the Council House, Battle of Plum Creek. Good historical fiction!!
April 15, 2020
A great tale set in an often-overlooked period of Texas history
January 29, 2022
Boring and cliche. Nothing like lonesome dove
April 25, 2025
I loved this book. It set me off on a quest for Texas and Texas Ranger history.
April 17, 2008
What a wonderful read for them's who are facinated by a tale of the old west, Texas, to be exact just after the fall of the Alamo. There are some real characters, engaged in what appear to have been "real"events and a ton of fictional characters all presented in a way that just swoops the reader up with the energy and the panarama. Life events kept having me put it donwn and I found mysef resentful of that; this tells me a book smacks of greatness. Well, it turned my crank. I am about to read more for this very fine author.
March 27, 2009
A motley crew of people start building Austin as the Texas capital following the Revolution. There are problems with the Comanches, the Cherokees, the usual no-good lying snakes, and the Texas Rangers, who are only as good as they must be.
Told in a rather laconic tone, with lots of gore, violence, rape, chicanery amid people trying to do the right thing. There are enough historical people (Sam Houston, Big Foot Wallace) to make me, with not much knowledge of Texas history, wonder about some of the others.
Read for Spring Challenge 15.4
Told in a rather laconic tone, with lots of gore, violence, rape, chicanery amid people trying to do the right thing. There are enough historical people (Sam Houston, Big Foot Wallace) to make me, with not much knowledge of Texas history, wonder about some of the others.
Read for Spring Challenge 15.4
June 30, 2010
This is a tremedous novel of post revolutionary Texas. Bud Shrake has created some memorable characters to intermingle with historical figures. The story of Ranger Matthew Caldwell is well told and the contrast with Dr. Romulus Swift creates an interesting love triangle with the German Jew heroine Hannah. Plenty of action and the story stands up with Shrake's masterpiece Blessed McGill and McMurtry's Lonesome Dove.
May 17, 2010
Narrator: George Guidall
George Guidall is one of my favorite performers of audio books and he enhanced this book once again for me.
I would have enjoyed the book as well reading it the more traditional way with my eyes.
The subject matter was one I was not very familiar with, and so added to my knowledge of the beginning of Texas. Edwin Shrake developed characters in this book that were interesting to read about.
I will seek out other books by him.
Recommend.
George Guidall is one of my favorite performers of audio books and he enhanced this book once again for me.
I would have enjoyed the book as well reading it the more traditional way with my eyes.
The subject matter was one I was not very familiar with, and so added to my knowledge of the beginning of Texas. Edwin Shrake developed characters in this book that were interesting to read about.
I will seek out other books by him.
Recommend.
Read
September 10, 2016Very enjoyable, but then there are never that many books that deal with the area you happen to be living in. It is just neat to know exacty where things are happening; or, say to look out your front door and be able to say, "Yep; the ferry was right over there." Nice strong plot about the early years of the Republic of Texas and the founding of Austin, with a cast of characters that would recognize those from Lonesome Dove.
July 17, 2014
Really a 3.5. Shrake is way more savvy than your typical Western author. The romance is pretty clunky, there's a bit too much narrative repetition, and the end is a little contrived and anti-climactic, but I like how he works in Plum Creek while avoiding the pitfall of the vanishing, doomed noble savage trope. Better than I thought it would be and an enjoyable read.
March 24, 2009
Setting is the Republic of Texas in 1839. Much of this book is not believable BUT the descriptions of the life, economy, politics, Indians, and geography of Texas when it was a Republic makes it worth the read.
November 18, 2009
I enjoyed this book alot. It wasn't anything fancy, but it was a rollicking good read about post-Alamo Texas --- Indians, Mexicans and Texas Rangers and the early settlements of San Antonio, Houston and Austin. I would definitely use the 1/2 star on this one if it was available!
March 16, 2014
I listened to the book and with Guidal's excellent narration it ran like a movie in my head. The stories were certainly engaging and he really brought them to life. In the same league as Lonesome Dove. I will read more books by Edwin Shrake.
June 26, 2014
Book kept my interest. Death and war was thrilling. Some characters and storylines lacked depth, they were just place holders. But the book doesn't end in a pretty bow, life goes on and closure isn't possible.
December 3, 2008
Fantastic read for Texas history buffs.
Brings the early days of Texas settlement to life!
Brings the early days of Texas settlement to life!
Read
March 26, 2010The Borderland: A Novel of Texas by Edwin Shrake (2000)
December 1, 2010
Enjoyable in parts, but silly in others...I learned a bit about the early history of the Texas Republic and the Rangers.
December 7, 2010
I loved this book. It set me off on a quest for Texas and Texas Ranger history.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews