Texas Revolution Basic Reading List

I've been asked several times to recommend books on the subject of the Texas Revolution which would be helpful for reënactors and living historians. In order to present the best historical interpretations possible, reading about and studying the period are mandatory. The problem is that in today's hectic world, it's hard to wade through the abundance of books and articles on the subject available without some sort of starting place. I should point out that this is not a list of the only books necessary to read to understand the period. It is not an ending point; it is a beginning point. A great deal happened in Texas during the fourth decade of the 19th century and it is well to remember that there is no one book or set of books that can give the reader a complete and total understanding of the subject. The learning process is neverending. (Ed. note: This list is subject to updates from time to time; these are listed at the bottom of the page.)

I, also, realize that many fine books have been left off of this list and, no doubt, one of your favorites is among them. It is not an insult to you or the author that your book isn't on the list, so don't send me nasty emails before you read the criteria listed below!

The books on the following list have been selected with a specific set of criteria in mind. The first criteria requirement is that the list is limited to non-fiction books concerning Texas from, roughly 1830 to 1840. Some of the finest books on this era in Texas history have been written fairly recently, so it is easy to establish the later half of the 20th Century as a second criteria requirement. In addition to these two criteria, the books need to be of general interest, readable, accurate and provide a variety of perspectives. After all, I think we've all had enough of the tortuous, dry, boring history taught in public schools to last us a lifetime. It's time to have our interests piqued; to question our beliefs and to exercise the ol' gray matter a little.

• Number 11: The Alamo Remembered. Tejano Accounts and Perspectives, by Timothy M. Matovina, 1994, University of Texas Press. Many times we forget that during the Battle of the Alamo there were people living in San Antonio. In fact, the population of Béxar was about 2300 prior to the onset of hostilities in late 1835. It was a predominately Hispanic population and most of the population had wisely fled to the countryside prior to Santa Anna's arrival in 1836. This book is a compilation of accounts left by some of the people who stayed in San Antonio during the siege of the Alamo or returned shortly thereafter. It is a fascinating book and well worth reading.
• Number 10: The Magnificent Barbarians. Little Told Tales of the Texas Revolution, by Bill and Marjorie Walraven, 1993, Eakin Press. I want to say "Buy this book for your kids.", and it would, indeed, be a great book for them read. The only problem is that it's also a great book for adults. The "Little Told Tales of the Texas Revolution" are presented as stand alone essays, so you can literally pick up the book and start reading anywhere. It is well written and entertaining, but what sets the book apart is that it's very well researched. The Walravens did their homework and it shows. I read this book years ago and I still refer to it's bibliography, every now and then, when doing research.
• Number 9: A Revolution Remembered. The Memoirs and Selected Correspondence of Juan N. Seguín, edited by Jesús F. de la Teja. This is a wonderful book to help understand what the long established Tejano families went through during the turbulent years of 1835 to 1846. The whole story of Juan Seguín is seldom told and this book goes a long way to correcting that. Amazon.com tells us it's Out of Print - Feb. 2004.
  
• Number 8: The Texas Revolutionary Experience: A Political and Social History, 1835-1836, by Paul D. Lack, 1992, Texas A&M University Press. OK, this is probably the most "academic" book in the list. It is a bit on the dry side and at times it will be a little slow for some readers, but it was written to provide a different perspective of the Texas Revolution. It is also controversial in some places. Lack discusses issues that were being discussed at the time and have long since been forgotten. He also provides statistics which alter the traditional view of the revolution, as a whole. If you want a book to challenge your beliefs and to really exercise the mind, this is it.
• Number 7: Texans in Revolt: The Battle for San Antonio, 1835, by Alwyn Barr 1990, University of Texas Press. Sometimes we forget that the Texians had to defeat the Mexican military to get the Alamo in the first place, so that they could defend it against Santa Anna three months later. This is a wonderful book about the first major battle of the Texas Revolution and the events that led up to it.
• Number 6: With Santa Anna in Texas: A Personal Narrative of the Revolution, by Jose Enrique de la Peña, 1997, Texas A&M University Press. De la Peña provides us with a unique view inside Santa Anna's army. He is not hesitant in his praise or condemnation of his fellow officers and his analysis of the Texas Campaign. He, also, describes in detail the beauty of the land and farms as well as the sufferings of the average Mexican soldado. There were many facets to the Texas Revolution and this account helps clarify a few of the lesser known or visited facets.
• Number 5: The Day of San Jacinto, by Frank X. Tolbert, 1959, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc. Frank Tolbert was a newspaper man and this book is written as a newspaper man would write it: as a story. It's well researched and accurate for its time. It's a first rate, fun read for young people or adults. This book is out of print, but should be available through any major library.
• Number 4. A Time to Stand by Walter Lord, 1978, Univ of Nebraska Press. This is one of the first of a genre of books written by eminent historians for popular consumption. It broke ground in researching the Siege and Battle of the Alamo and was written in a style that made it immensely popular to the general public. Even today, 38 years after it was published, it is still used as a benchmark of Texas History.
• Number 3. Blood of Noble Men: The Alamo Siege and Battle, by Alan C. Huffines and Gary S. Zaboly, 1999, Eakin Press. This book is a "must have" for any study of the Battle of the Alamo. It is a day by day description of the seige and battle of the Alamo as written by people who were there. Included are the wonderful drawings of Gary Zaboly and a wealth of information on dress, equipment and the village of San Antonio at the time. Alan and Gary did a bangup job on this book.
• Number 2. Three Roads to the Alamo, by William C. Davis, 1998, Harper Collins Publishers. William Davis is primarily a writer of Civil War books, but he brought his skills as a researcher and writer to Texas history with stunning affect. Three Roads to the Alamo is a biography of William B Travis, James Bowie and David Crockett and a must read for anyone who is interested in Texas history. Serious students of Texas history will find the notes and bibliography invaluable.
• Number 1. The Texian Iliad, by Stephen L. Hardin, 1994, University of Texas Press. While Davis' book is a close second, Hardin's Texian Iliad is the best overall book on the military aspect of the Texas Revolution ever written. It is not only a wonderfully written book and wonderfully illustrated by Gary Zaboly, but is also Dr. Hardin's dissertation, which attests to it's accuracy. If you could only read one book on Texas history, this is, quite simply, the one. TLA Review

Sic Semper Texanus
Charlie Yates

As with any list, there are sometimes additions. Here is where those begin...

• The Alamo Reader by Todd Hansen (Editor)
  published by Stackpole Books in September, 2003.