Tried reading this off and on over a few years and just couldn’t finish. Not sure why since Texas is one of my favorite places!

[After second reading, revised rating to 3.5, down from 4]

A thorough and able telling of the historical events leading to and through the Texas Revolution and their annexation into the United States. Though the book ends well (its flourish in an examination of Sam Houston's having to preside over the dissolution of the annexation he strove so hard to facilitate), through most of its length the narrative merely navigates from event to event. It makes good use of epistolary sources and written accounts from several sides of the conflict, but it serves mostly as a summary.

As I've just completed Ron Chernow's masterful biography Alexander Hamilton, I admit that H.W. Brands' treatment suffers in comparison, and likely depresses my reaction to Lone Star Nation. Brand's work is a good introduction to the subject, and covers the primary points of Texas' movement toward independence - expressing nuanced views of most characters involved - but it ultimately feels like a utilitarian treatment.

Good account of the events leading up to the war for independence in Texas, the brief revolution, and ultimate decision to break from the US in 1861. Story focuses mostly on the history (biography) of key players in the war (Bowie, Crockett, Austin, Houston, Santa Ana, etc) vs. broader stories about the events on the ground.

The story of Texas is a good one... and this book brings legends like Sam Houston and Davy Crockett to life. Funny. Well-researched and balanced.

Brands produced a book that has a highly readable style. He hits the high points of the Mexican and Republic eras, but rarely gets into too much detail. The major characters, such as Austin, Travis, and Houston are covered just enough so that you don't think of them as iconic heroes. Two things struck me as interesting: the Texas army were total mavericks--unwilling to follow a command unless it suited them. Also, the Texas Republic was inept at governing. It had no power, couldn't tax and needed an Army but couldn't pay for it. All the while, the political visionaries knew that Mexican statehood was just not gonna happen. I'll read more by this author.

Like all Texans who went to Jr High in the public school system, I had a Texas History course. Battles at Gonzalez, Alamo, Goliad, San Jacinto, some politics, a new republic, the end. The primary characters were remote paragons of Western self-reliance and sacrifice. If that history class had been taught with THIS book, it would've been so much more interesting. Brands does a good job painting Austin, Travis, Bowie and Houston as real people - warts and all. He also paints Santa Anna, Gen. Urrea, Gen DeLaPena and others as people - warts and all. The story reads like a grand epic full of characters you understand. The battle plans always felt disjointed and confusing - here they're explained and presented in a rich context that sets the scene so well you understand it all. This is a great read for those new to the subject and it is so well written that Texas History buffs will enjoy revisiting their favorite subject.

This was a very good book concerning Texas history with the primary focus on the Texas Revolution. Brands does a great job making the book very readable and I especially appreciated the thorough sketches of the major players in the history of Texas at that time: Stephen F. Austin, Sam Houston, Jim Travis, David Bowie, Davy Crockett, and Santa Anna.

I was especially struck by the different character of the American and Texan Revolution. The American revolution being largely initiated by statesmen and the Texas revolution being largely initiated by frontiersmen. It was interesting to read about the relationship between Sam Houston and his Army and the providential nature of their ultimate victory.

Just a fantastic history of Texas. Brands writes in a compelling, accessible manner, and his work is obviously impeccably researched. His retelling of the Alamo and other battles bring the scenes to life, and multiple perspectives on both sides of the war are presented. Where instances of historical disagreement arise, Brands gives fair treatment to each side while assessing their respective merits. A great read for anyone who likes history.

An in depth look at the history of Texas, from early settlers to it becoming a country, and then a state in the USA. Paying particular to the men who shaped the state, from American Stephen Austin, the state's reluctant founder; Sam Houston, the alcoholic former governor who came to lead the Texas army right when he was needed; William Travis, James Bowie, and David Crockett, the unforgettable heroic defenders of the doomed Alamo; and Santa Anna, the Mexican generalissimo who caused so much of the strife in the first place, the author showed how everything fell into place, against all odds, for Texas freedom.

So, being a fourth grade teacher in Texas that has to teach Texas history, I wanted to build more personal knowledge of it all, but the book got to the point where I was so bored, and so I finished it on double speed - ha ha!

An engaging and easy to read summary of Texas and its colorful characters. 4 stars because the ending felt a little rushed and I wanted it to discuss annexation to the US and the lead up to secession in a little more detail.

Engaging read on the build up to the Texas Revolution. The stories of key personalities like William B Travis, Davy Crockett, Stephen F Austin Sam Houston etc were very engaging and well written. I also appreciated the fact that he didn’t spend too much time on the Alamo. He also wasn’t scared to point out that defending the Alamo was of very little if any strategic importance.

Overall a good book. I will look for others from this author.

Awesome book, well written.