Sleuthing the Alamo
Davy Crockett's Last Stand and Other Mysteries of the Texas Revolution
-
- $27.99
-
- $27.99
Publisher Description
In Sleuthing the Alamo, historian James E. Crisp draws back the curtain on years of mythmaking to reveal some surprising truths about the Texas Revolution--truths often obscured by both racism and "political correctness," as history has been hijacked by combatants in the culture wars of the past two centuries.
Beginning with a very personal prologue recalling both the pride and the prejudices that he encountered in the Texas of his youth, Crisp traces his path to the discovery of documents distorted, censored, and ignored--documents which reveal long-silenced voices from the Texan past. In each of four chapters focusing on specific documentary "finds," Crisp uncovers the clues that led to these archival discoveries. Along the way, the cast of characters expands to include: a prominent historian who tried to walk away from his first book; an unlikely teenaged "speechwriter" for General Sam Houston; three eyewitnesses to the death of Davy Crockett at the Alamo; a desperate inmate of Mexico City's Inquisition Prison, whose scribbled memoir of the war in Texas is now listed in the Guiness Book of World Records; and the stealthy slasher of the most famous historical painting in Texas. In his afterword, Crisp explores the evidence behind the mythic "Yellow Rose of Texas" and examines some of the powerful forces at work in silencing the very voices from the past that we most need to hear today.
Here then is an engaging first-person account of historical detective work, illuminating the methods of the serious historian--and the motives of those who prefer glorious myth to unflattering truth.
Customer Reviews
What A Disappointment
I would have given this tripe zero stars if I could. From the opening pages, the author presents tremendous bias by using his personal experiences (NONE of which can be corroborated) as a frame with which we are encouraged to view Texas history.
Here is a man who is driven not by pursuit of historic authenticity, but by a keen desire to affirm his own ideological bent via cherry-picked and carefully-manipulated information. If 12 sources say something he doesn't like and 1 says something else, he jumps through hoops to pimp that 1 source.
This is garbage. It's a shame I can't get my money back. Please don't waste yours on this bilge.
Captivating and inspiring read
Though the author focuses on Texas history, the theme here is historiography. It's just fantastically written, from the author's voice, gracefully carrying the reader through each topic, to his knowledgeability of and devotion to each topic that enables him to touch the reader. Will definitely read again!