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Post by Herb on May 1, 2007 9:17:11 GMT -5
1. The Alamo Story, by JR Edmondson: A good general narrative history.
2. Three Roads to the Alamo, by William C. Davis: Biographies of Travis, Bowie, and Crockett.
3. The Alamo Reader, by Todd Hansen: The most thorough collection of complete primary accounts about the Alamo.
4. The Illustrated Alamo 1836 - A Photographic Journey, by Mark Lemon: A detailed study of the Alamo Compound in 1836, it's hard to understand the battle without understanding the ground it was fought on. Mark Lemon has provided us the most historically and archaeologically verified view of the Alamo Compound to date,
5. Texian Iliad, by Stephen L. Hardin: A well written military history of the Texas Revolution.
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Post by Herb on May 1, 2007 9:19:12 GMT -5
Books Previously on the List:
A Time to Stand, by Walter Lord: the classic narrative of the Battle of the Alamo
Sacrificed at the Alamo, by Bruce Winders: The first book to properly place and explain the battle of the Alamo as a Napoleonic era battle.
The Secret War for Texas, by Stuart Reid: A totally different and new look at the Texas Revolution, while not focused on the Alamo, it thoroughly explains the events in South Texas from December 1835 through March 1836 that culminated in the fall of the Alamo.
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Post by Herb on May 1, 2007 9:19:37 GMT -5
Here's my idea:
On every forum, the question is repeatedly asked what is the best book to read on the Alamo, it usually gets numerous replies then gets lost and a while later gets reasked and so on.
Perhaps, Jim, can tack this thread to the front of the Alamo History Topic, where it'll always be available to vistors, newcomers, etc.
I propose that we debate and reach the top five by consenus, as new books are published if the consenus feels that they belong on the list we add them and move the previously listed book down to the second box.
I've posted a proposed top five to start off the debate (I hope).
I'll start off on why, I picked The Alamo Story over A Time to Stand. While I regard Lord's work as a true classic about the Alamo, and the first really good history of the battle, it is sadly dated. Edmondson's work is a truly good narrative and includes so much more of the latest research. Almost all of the issues currently debated are presented in Edmondson's book. I also feel that it is needed as a counterweight to Davis's Three Roads. While I don't think there will be too much argument over the inclusion of Three Roads Davis has an obvious dislike for Bowie, that makes a reader ask if Bowie were so despicable why would Austin, Houston, the governor, Smith, etc trust him and more importantly why would men follow him. Edmondson answers that question.
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Post by Jim Boylston on May 1, 2007 10:01:25 GMT -5
When I was in the Alamo gift shope the other day, I saw a guy browsing the books, looking a little confused. I asked him if he wanted a recommendation, and suggested two with which to start his studies, Edmonson's Alamo Story, and Davis's Three Roads. I think Jack's book is the most accessable and best overall narrative history, and the Davis book provides the most detailed biographies of the "big 3". For people that want to dig in even more, Todd Hansen's Alamo Reader is indispensable, and I too really like Winders' "Sacrificed at the Alamo" for a study of the battle as a military action. Jim
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Post by Allen Wiener on May 3, 2007 11:44:19 GMT -5
I can't argue with these choices. I agree that Davis has a bias against Bowie and, in light of some of my own recent research, think he's even sloppy in places as well as inaccurate regardig Bowie. I don't think he has much admiration for Crockett either, but he's accurate on him, as far as I can tell, more up to date and readable than Shackford too. I just get the idea he doesn't think much of the guy. He does seem to see a lot in Travis and concludes that Travis had more potential than the other two, had he lived, in a future Texas as a real political leader.
AW
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Post by Jim Boylston on May 3, 2007 16:55:14 GMT -5
I agree that Bowie certainly comes off the worst of the three in terms of moral character. I was fortunate enough while in Dallas this week to spend an afternoon with Wolfpack and Jack Edmondson. Jack, who I think does a great job of capturing Bowie in his "The Alamo Story", reminded me that Bowie's slave trading days were when he was relatively young, and that it might be unfair to Bowie to judge him only by one period of his life. He also mentioned that Bowie's land schemes were fairly legitimate...that the Bowie's were working loopholes in the legal system, and that they were never charged with land fraud. Jim
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Post by Allen Wiener on May 3, 2007 18:38:15 GMT -5
That was the impression I got. I also think Bowie's actions have to be taken in the context of the time and place he came from; he was a very ambitious guy and never seemed to run out of ideas about how he could advance himself financially and socially. I think Crockett felt the same need, coming from very humble origins and looking for any leg up he could get in the world. Both did better themselves, largely through hard work and determination.
I'm only guessing here, but I've heard that Jeff Long was not able to get a publisher for "Dual of Eagles" until he agreed to make the book as negative as he could, pandering to the tabloid mentality of our time. Publishers clearly feel that this is the only way to sell something these days. The same may have been true of Davis, who certainly seemed negative on Bowie and not so hot on Crockett either. He seems to admire the hot-headed, green, slave-owning, wife-deserting Travis because he sees growth in the man over those 13 days and real potential in him.
AW
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Post by elcolorado on Jun 4, 2007 23:25:17 GMT -5
Buenos dias, mi amigos! Those are indeed some of the finest books available and it's hard to disagree with that selection of writings. However, my recommended list will differ simply because I haven't read two of them...yet. "Sacrificed At The Alamo" - I own it but have yet to read it. And "Secret War For Texas" . So I cannot voice an opinion on those two works. But as for the first three choices I'm right there with you. "The Alamo Story" is my favorite and supplants "A Time To Stand" as my number one choice. Bullseye number two with "Three Roads To The Alamo"...just an awesome piece of work in spite of the seemingly anti-Bowie overtone. I have long thought that this book would make a great mini-series..."Are you listening HBO". "The Alamo Reader" is another score. Suited for the serious Alamo student but may be a little too much for a beginner. As for my forth selection I choose "Blood Of Noble Men". I feel that this book is essential because it provides something the others do not - excellent visuals. Lets face it...too many people think the Alamo consists only of the Church and the Long Barracks and don't realize that it is incomplete. The last time I was at the Alamo I recall hearing comments like: "Is this all there is...it's so small" - "How did all those guys fit in there." Sound familiar? So I believe "BNM" would help your "Average Joe" understand the battle better especially when a writer begins talking about: "Lunette" "Palisade" "Abaits" "Battery" "Fortin" "Main Gate" ...etc. OK...my last choice is my former first choice "A Time To Stand". I know that it's dated but it still contains a wealth of pertinent information, it's very well written, and Lord is quite objective and does not play favorites or choose sides. Well...there's my "two cents". It is likely to change as I continue my book reading.
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Post by Jim Boylston on Jun 4, 2007 23:31:44 GMT -5
Good point, Glenn. For me, the Zaboly illustrations just make that book. They're really outstanding. He did a nice job in "Texian Iliad" as well. Man, he always does a nice job! Jim
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Post by Herb on Jun 4, 2007 23:37:28 GMT -5
You're right about the Zaboley drawings, and a book on the Compound itself probably belongs on the list. Perhaps Mark Lemon's upcoming book will be it!
There's a wealth of books that have been left off, Hardin's "Texian Iliad" comes first to mind to me.
I tend to view the first three books as the true essentials - if you really want to get into studying the Alamo. The last two offer something unique, imo.
Bruce Winder's book, quite honestly, corrrects the popular image of Santa Anna as some sort of boob, and his army as ill-trained non-Spanish speaking Indians. Instead it very accuratly emphasisizes the professionalism of that army and explains the fundamentals of warfare at the time, and how the Mexican Army applied them.
Stuart's book, is really interesting, for it presents a whole new look at the Texas Revolution. But, what makes it so good, imo, is that it puts all of the events in context and really demonstrates how closely interrelated everything was. Now, that's he's broken the ground, it'll be interesting in seeing how others advance or dispute his work.
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Post by Doc Al on Jun 26, 2007 15:02:18 GMT -5
I hope I'm not speaking out of turn in making a suggestion, and it might in fact prove to be impractical. But here goes. Since I'm only "so-so" up on Alamo sources, I think it would be helpful if we were to post a bibliography--not all that extensive--for at least some of the sources we use in our questions and answers. Even if it's nothing more than author's name and title(s). I know this thread has certainly helped me when, for example, somebody says "according to Hanson . . ."--I can turn here and see who is being referred to. Does anyone think this is a good idea, or is it unnecessary and/or impractical?
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Post by Jim Boylston on Jun 26, 2007 16:28:14 GMT -5
No, I think it's a good idea. I'll open another thread and welcome contributions. Once we have a number of sources listed, I'll cut and paste them into the first post, sticky it, and we'll be set. Good suggestion. Jim
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Post by marklemon on Aug 9, 2007 0:23:56 GMT -5
I very badly need to get a copy of Volume 2 of Filisola's "The History of the War in Texas,"( I already have volume 1) but don't want to pay the hundreds of dollars for the copies I see on Amazon. Does anyone know if this is available online? Thanks in advance... Mark
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Post by Allen Wiener on Aug 9, 2007 7:43:30 GMT -5
Mark,
Go to Bookfinder.com and type in Filisola in the "author" space and you'll see several books by him, but I don't think this one is among them -- there are lots of copies of his "Memoirs of the War in Texas," but I don't think that's what you're looking for.
AW
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Post by dimbo33 on Jan 13, 2008 1:03:48 GMT -5
Mark, If you are still looking for Filisola's Memoirs of the War in Texas the first volume of the Cumplido edition is on line at the Portals of Texas History site. Good news or bad depending on your attention to detail--it is in Spanish. Woolsey translated the Rafael edition of the Memoirs and added a small amount of material from the Cumplido edition. In case you are not aware--Filisola wrote two separate books of two volumes each and the two works were given the exact same title--Memoirs of the history of the war in Texas. Rafael published the first version and this was translated by Woolsey. Cumplido published the second version and it has much more detail about the Alamo and Texas campaign.
You should be able to find Volume two of Woolsey fairly cheap if you keep your eye out on e-bay, bookfinder etc. There was a Spanish language reprint from Mexico in about 1960 but it is fairly hard to find.
I would suggest that you all place both versions of Filisola's book in the bibliography.
If you still don't have any luck let me know. I may be able to hunt down a copy. Gregg
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