Texans

The Old West #13

by Time-Life Books

The producers of this book is Time Life.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Historical, Westerns, American History

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another nice entry in the Time-Life "The Old West" series. The book begins by noting that (Page 6): "The lure of a new life in fabulous Texas, with land and riches thrown in, proved irresistible to thousands of Americans in the decades after 1822. . . ."

The story includes some impressive figures, such as Stephen Austin, Sam Houston, Davey Crockett, and Ben McCulloch. The first chapter features the development of an influx of Americans into Texas, then under Mexican sovereignty. Moses Austin and his son Stephen are highlighted here. A map on page 17 shows the shifting boundaries of Texas.

There follows the story of the Alamo and San Jacinto. Then, the Republic of Texas is born, followed by the pathway to statehood. In the process, we read of the conflict between the Texans and native Americans; we read of the developing culture of Texas; the story of the economy of Texas is told.

All in all, a nice introduction to Texas as a part of this series. . . .

[Pat Murphy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is another of the Old West series by Time Life that I acquired about 20 years ago or so. I have now read 6 of them and I think they are all worth reading. The memorable parts of this book describe the Battle of the Alamo, and the Battle of San Jacinto. They were actually written in a manner that was full of suspense and excitement. Other parts focus on Stephen Austin and Sam Houston at some length. Texas has a very different history than the rest of the states in that they were actually a sovereign country before they were a state of the Union. Their history of that kind of governing that they experienced is interesting. I believe that anyone who has a mild interest in history would like this.

[Jason Crow · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will preface this by saying that I read a fair amount of Texas history. Once again, the Time-Life series on the Old West delivers. Most of what I read in this book washes with what I have read elsewhere and there was also some new information to me. These are delightfully concise and informative and The Texans serves as a great introduction to Texas history, particularly the period before and after the Texas Revolution. Naturally, Sam Houston is a central character, but may of the other heroes of Texas are represented as well.
I used to peruse my Aunt's copy of this book almost every time I went to her house and I was not adventuring with my cousins. Finally, I picked up a copy of my own to complete the series I started collecting in my teens through mail order. The illustrations sparked my imagination just like the text does today.

[Joseph · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one took me almost a year to complete. I may have over indulged in the Time Life Series and I burned myself out a bit. I finally got back to this one and completed the story. Still riveting to behold this volume opened up many things that I never knew about Texas.

[Ellenh · Rating 4 out of 5]

The only book in this series I've read, and it was worthy...not exciting, but very well done. Just got back from the area and this book helps put things into perspective about Texas.

[Davy Bennett]

The Houston Texans are for real.
Super Bowl bound.

[William Razavi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a series that in general hasn't aged well and, well, this one...whew. It has definitely not aged well.
Even as it does occasionally indulge in a healthy level of historical detail (is that a low bar? it feels like a low bar) it's also still in 1975 exercising a kind of hagiography that is...uncomfortable/infuriating. There are enough new books that have exploded the myth of the Texas Rangers that it feels particularly distasteful to see them celebrated here as the icons of the west.
In that regard this book is a good example to use if what you're trying to do is illustrate the way in which historical myth making operates and shapes our narratives.
The narrative here is that if the "Old West" is a very special part of the image of "America" (circa 1975 but certainly into the present for many still) then the Texans are a very extra special part of that story. (Cue the theme from Giant.).
Here's a story of Stephen Austin, who organized legal immigration into Spanish/Mexican Texas but then also became a leader of a group of "illegal" immigrants who organized violent (and often racist) movements that led to secession/independence and then annexation/absorption by the United States.
The short shrift and the shrug given to the indigenous peoples is really infuriating. The Spanish basically decimated the population of Texas through disease in the their missions and then they abandoned their project and encouraged settlement. When the wrong kind of immigrants showed up to colonize the place this led to conflict.
You might have thought it would be worth mentioning that Santa Anna started off as an officer fighting on the Spanish side against Mexican independence.
The Alamo nonsense requires so much demythification that I don't know where to start.
It's hilarious to me that nobody is completely sure if the family's name was Dickinson or Dickerson.
The period of the republic is a little better since it's not normally covered in mythic versions of the Texas story. Here we get to see the difference between Houston who from the beginning was looking at Texas for the expansion of the US while people like Lamar really did think this was their chance to make an entirely new country.
Both of those guys held people in bondage. We deserve better heroes.
The later parts of the book reek of Confederacy.
The whole thing is definitely mid-20th century American mythology. (Again, the whole faux-leather bound series is practically an object lesson in that).
The illustrations are worth checking it out, but the overall point ("look at the greatness that is Texas (Anglo Texas, that is)") is really really not okay. Sorry, that's not really the story of Texas that I'm part of.

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

Time Life Books, how you take me back to the awesome 1970s! "The Texans" focuses on the development of the Lone Star State from American colony headed by Stephen Austin in Mexico, through the 1836 Texas war for independence, the brief time it spent as a nation state, annexation to United States in 1844 which directly lead to the Mexican-American War, up to session from the United States at the start of the Civil War. The most interesting figure in this Texas tale is Sam Houston who was involved in every phase of Texas' development, from being the commander of the Texas militia against Santa Anna, being the first president of the Texas nation, Senator after annexation, and finally governor of the State of Texas in 1860 when he refused to pledge allegiance to the Confederate States of America. After reading "The Texans" I really want a cold Shiner Bock to wash down some Texas BBQ!

[Clint · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good short history of Texas. Like all Time-Life books has a good selection to of documents, artifacts and artwork reproduced. The period between independence from Mexico and joining the United States is well covered.

[Bright Boy Books]

2 copies