Texas by james a. michener

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

It's Michener, so the writing is stellar.

Professor Barlow is tasked (pun alert) with leading a Task Force to decide on what history should be included in TX history classes at all levels, from grade school through college. Each chapter of the book spotlights a historically fictional account, which is based on real events, of the State's history. It starts from colonization by the Spanish, then through nationhood and Statehood until the 80s. At the end of each chapter, there is a description of the Task Force's meetings that address the topic of each historical period, with a connection to the (then) current situation.

Of course, the Alamo is covered, as well as slavery and Texan/Mexican/Tejano/Texican relations.

There are few characters that are redeemable in this story (which is why it got 4 stars instead of 5). In Chesapeake, there was an enduring and strong Black family, and of course the history of Quakers as abolitionists.

But still read it. This was my second time reading it (the first was decades ago). However, even if I do a reread of his books in the future, I'll probably skip this one.... because I really do need heroes. Especially in a Michener novel, I need to feel some hope for our future.

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VAD_S

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

3.5 stars

In the southwest of North America in the 16th century, the Spaniards explored this region of America. Further south, in Mexico, they had long ruled. Also, the region west and north of the Gulf of Mexico soon fell under their rule. They named it "Texas".

As the contemporary author Edward Rutherfurd wrote, James Michener, during his creative period from the 1940s to the beginning of the 1990s, wrote numerous historical novels that describe the history of a particular region through several family stories. In contrast to some other books that start with the geology or the animal world of the region, the action of "Texas" begins only shortly after the conquest by the Spaniards. As a framework action, the formation of a "Task Force" that is supposed to reform the history teaching in Texas educational institutions in the present serves. Part of this Task Force are the descendants of the families who come to Texas and settle there during the course of the novel. The individual chapters, which each deal with a period of time, each end with a section of the "Task Force".

While the first chapter still comes across a bit stiffly, Michener manages in the following chapters to create interesting and believable characters with whom one can partly identify. However, this is limited by the fact that the characters are people of their time, whose attitude towards Indians and blacks is abhorrent to us today.

Michener does not spare his readers - atrocities are described in a matter-of-fact tone and without softening. I myself was shocked by the terrible torture and killing methods that Michener has the Indians - Apaches and Comanches - who settled there use. I was not aware that these tribes were particularly cruel Indian groups. I know that both sides and not just the Americans committed massacres, but I knew more about the genocide of the Indians. I do not question the motives of the Indians, of course they defend themselves against the intruders, but this terrible cruelty... it probably lies in the nature of man. Nevertheless, the chapters that deal with conflicts between (US-)Americans and Indians belong to the highlights of the book.

What surprised me was how briefly the American Civil War is described, and the First and Second World Wars are completely omitted. This is understandable, as there is enough other literature on these topics. However, what really comes up short in my opinion is the Kennedy assassination, which finally took place in Dallas, and the person of Lyndon B. Johnson, who was himself a Texan. Overall, the chapters on the more recent history of the state are the weak points of the novel. Although the corresponding chapters inform quite well about the further development of Texas (e.g. the oil boom), they focus too much on economic aspects, so that I actually found them boring.

Overall, however, "Texas" is, like other books of this genre, an entertaining and enjoyable source with which readers can learn something about the history of the region. However, one should be aware of the enormous scope of the novel before considering reading it.

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MarlyTT

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Enjoyable read, but a heck of a slog. It is an extremely long book. I assume it was historically accurate, which makes it educational, interesting, surprising, and awesome, yet also awful and appalling at times. Only the truly committed and tough men and women survived the early years, and not even all of them. The characters were delightful, although even some of those with redeeming values had qualities that were less than admirable. The bias and prejudices shown by supposed community leaders were really disturbing by most standards.

I must admit, though, that after reading this book, I can understand why Texans feel such a proud attachment to their state. If you are ready and willing to devote many evenings to this book, and understand that there is language used that you may find offensive but are willing to accept the literary purposes for the language used, I say go for it. If not, you will not like it and there is a good chance you will not finish the book.

It's a complex and detailed account that takes you on a journey through Texas history. You'll encounter a wide range of characters, from the heroic to the despicable. The story is filled with both triumphs and tragedies, which makes it a captivating read. However, the length and the use of some offensive language may be a deterrent for some readers. But if you're willing to overlook these aspects and immerse yourself in the story, you'll gain a deeper understanding of Texas and its people.

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kuronumaa

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

There is simply too much blatant racism,

with the glorification of the KKK,

an overemphasis on religion,

and a disregard for the value of nonwhite individuals.

It seems as if only oil and longhorns are excluded from this negative portrayal.

Nevertheless, it must be said that the stories surrounding these topics are better written and told than not.

This is a good thing considering that the work consists of over 1100 pages.

Overall, it can be rated 6 out of 10 stars.

The blatant racism and other issues are concerning,

but the quality of the storytelling does manage to salvage some of the experience.

However, it is important to approach this work with a critical eye and not simply accept the potentially harmful messages it may convey.

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Florten

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

This is my third Michener read. The others were so long ago that I can only remember the titles. Texas is a vast state with a rich and extensive history that lends itself well to a grand and sweeping narrative. And JM does just that here as he delves into over four centuries of border contrasts and conflicts. Even now, perhaps more than ever, these serve as a reflection of the shifting dynamics that are driving inexorable change.

Michener employs both past and present narrative characters, with some lineages being factual and others not. All of this is aimed at depicting the various stages of Texas' expansion, from exploration to the real estate booms and busts of the mid-80s. He divides the book into long chapters, each with a specific focus, which together form the kaleidoscope of Texas. Some of these issues are just as relevant today as they were hundreds of years ago. It's a long and detailed travelogue through the years, filled with colorful personalities, lore, myths, and legends. The Texas Rangers, for example.

Well, I recently had a negative reading experience with a book that was mostly lauded. So, for me, enjoying this book, with its broad scope and straightforward prose, is a much better experience. I was able to understand what was there to be understood and finished the book with a smile and some questions to think about. Y'all.

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Ricardoricki

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Again, one of my favorite books by Michener is this one. You can easily tell, just by the way the characters develop, how Texas acquired its unique character, charm, and stubbornness. Michener takes the reader on a comprehensive journey through the entire gamut of the history of Texas. He starts from the early days when the settlers had to deal with the Apache and Comanche Indians, and then moves on to the complex interactions with the Mexicans. This book truly has just about everything in it. It涵盖了丰富的历史事件、人物故事以及文化背景，让读者仿佛置身于那个充满传奇色彩的时代。 It is a fun read that not only entertains but also educates. You will find yourself completely immersed in the story and eager to turn the pages to discover what happens next.

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blurrypixelwater

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Well, I finally finished it.

It took me over a year, but I managed to get it done.

The book is just shy of 1,500 pages, and I read every single one of them.

Surprisingly, it was actually quite good.

Like every Michener book I've read, it is a collection of stories that are loosely connected by an often hard-to-discern thread.

There were large parts of this book that I didn't find even remotely interesting.

For example, I couldn't understand why he felt the need to spend dozens of pages on the sheep herders of Scotland.

For my purposes, he could have simply said "McNab came from sheep herding families in Scotland" and skipped all that unnecessary detail.

I found sections like that completely unnecessary, but that's just the way Michener writes.

If you're going to read his books, you have to expect that.

I would say that the era from about 1500 through the Civil War was pretty good, while the more recent stories were less so (at least for me).

One final thought: he uses a framework where the governor (in the mid-80s) has established a commission on how to teach Texas history.

Each chapter ends with a dozen pages or so of the commission's discussion.

The members of this commission are the most hackneyed, stereotypical caricatures of Texans I've ever seen.

As someone who has lived in Texas for almost 30 years, I was embarrassed for Mr. Michener.

These people don't represent "Texas" at all.

They are just an outsider's view of "Texas."

Sure, you can find people like this in Texas, but they are really just a caricature of Texans.

His editor should have cut that part, and if you read the book, I'd recommend skipping those sections.

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arionwolff

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

July 15,2025

Texas, by James A. Michener, was published in 1985 and consists of 1096 pages. Its ISBN is 0394541545.

It presents a fictionalized history of Texas from 1535 through 1984. However, one cannot find any likeable characters in this work.

Michener writes with an almost worshipful admiration of men who engage in stealing, defrauding, and murdering in the pursuit of their own freedom, regardless of the cost to others. For example, on pages 276, 648 - 649, we see men casually stealing their neighbors' cattle and then murdering those neighbors when they try to do the same.

At the end of the story, the heirs of wealth gained through theft, murder, fraud, and corruption are present. They use their billions to gamble in asset markets, inflating bubbles they know will burst. They rush to get out before the bust, leaving someone else to bear the loss, and then prey on the holders of distressed assets, as described on page 1076.

Michener even seems to admire these people. When his billionaire states, “Those who own the country ought to govern it,” Michener, in his own voice, calls this “truth” on page 1072.

Michener does see the absurdity in some situations, such as the empowerment of the occupant of the big house in a mid-1800s German town to decide who can marry and the king of Spain in the 1500s being the only authority to grant a missionary a new robe. However, he fails to see that the ascension of his own vile brand of politics is recreating an aristocracy of wealth.

Moreover, Michener descends into xenophobia. He claims that bilingual education will make the U.S. “worse than Canada” on page 1021. Dozens of times, he refers to unauthorized workers as “illegals” and “wetbacks” on pages 914 - 922, 930, 1022, 1023, 1037, 1050 - 1055. This shows a rather narrow-minded and discriminatory attitude that is quite concerning.

Overall, while “Texas” may offer a fictionalized account of the state's history, it is marred by these negative aspects that make it a less than favorable read.

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Texas

james a. michener

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