A huge, riveting, deeply imagined novel about the siege and fall of the Alamo in 1836, an event that formed the conscousness of Texas and that resonates through American history. It follows the lives of 3 people whose fates become bound to the now-fabled Texas fort. The story unfolds with vivid immediacy and describes the pivotal battle from the perspective of the Mexican attackers as well as the American defenders. Filled with dramatic scenes and abounding in fictional and historical personalities. A historical novel at its best.
A novel about the siege and fall of the Alamo, this book follows of three (fictional) people whose fates become bound to the fort: Edmund McGowan, a naturalist; Mary Mott, a widowed innkeeper; and Mary's teenage son Terrell. It tells the story from the perspective of both the Mexican and American armies.
I did enjoy the book. Since I grew up in Texas, I also grew up with the story of the Alamo. Although this is a work of fiction, the author tries to stick to the truth as much as possible. As he admits, the truth and myth of the Alamo are so entwined that it is impossible to be completely factual or to please everybody. I think he did a good job of writing an entertaining, engrossing book.
I did enjoy the book. Since I grew up in Texas, I also grew up with the story of the Alamo. Although this is a work of fiction, the author tries to stick to the truth as much as possible. As he admits, the truth and myth of the Alamo are so entwined that it is impossible to be completely factual or to please everybody. I think he did a good job of writing an entertaining, engrossing book.
This a great historical novel about the Battle of the Alamo.
Good read - I learned alot about the Alamo
This book was a New York Times Bestseller. It is an engrossing novel of the fight for and fall of the Alamo in 1836. It follows the lives
of three people whose lives become bound together at the fort. Edmund
McGowan, a gifted naturalist, the resourceful innkeeper Mary Mott and
her sixteen-year old son, Terrell. Other people featured in the novel
are James Bowie, David Crockett. William Travis and Santa Anna.
of three people whose lives become bound together at the fort. Edmund
McGowan, a gifted naturalist, the resourceful innkeeper Mary Mott and
her sixteen-year old son, Terrell. Other people featured in the novel
are James Bowie, David Crockett. William Travis and Santa Anna.
Although the book depicts the violence of the time, it was a really good read.
great book
I looked forward to this. It was good, but I found that my interest in it went up and down throughout the book. Might have been that I was distracted while reading, so it may have not been the books fault.
Stephen Harrigan has produced a fine novel centered on the siege of the Alamo, peopled by both fictional and historic characters from both sides. Along the way, he provides an overview of the political situation in Mexico at the time and takes several healthy swipes at some of the most prevalent Alamo myths.
By and large, none of the Texas Pantheon make it through with their historical haloes intact. Travis, Austin, Bowie, and Houston are presented as flawed, even vainglorious men. Of them all, Davey Crockett comes off as the most human, though even he is portrayed as driven not so much by a fight for some nebulous political freedom as he is by the opportunity to withdraw from a humiliating political defeat and make a fresh start with headright land in an independent Texas.
The fictional characters tend to come off as much more admirable, and are well-drawn and believable. The description of the final assault on the mission is grimly realistic, and Harrigan extends his story past the iconic battle, painting the aftermath in broad strokes that nevertheless provide a reasonably clear picture of the events that led to Texas independence.
By and large, none of the Texas Pantheon make it through with their historical haloes intact. Travis, Austin, Bowie, and Houston are presented as flawed, even vainglorious men. Of them all, Davey Crockett comes off as the most human, though even he is portrayed as driven not so much by a fight for some nebulous political freedom as he is by the opportunity to withdraw from a humiliating political defeat and make a fresh start with headright land in an independent Texas.
The fictional characters tend to come off as much more admirable, and are well-drawn and believable. The description of the final assault on the mission is grimly realistic, and Harrigan extends his story past the iconic battle, painting the aftermath in broad strokes that nevertheless provide a reasonably clear picture of the events that led to Texas independence.
