From a historiographical perspective, this book was such a disappointment. Brands relies heavily on secondary sources and just a few primary sources to support a mythological history of the Texas Revolution. The perspectives of Mexicans, abolitionists, and non-whites were either ignored or smugly derided. I wanted to learn more about the history of my new home, but I can't help but feeling that I've been misinformed or too narrowly informed to give me a very balanced education on the subject.

Believing that Democracy will eventually correct its mistakes, Sam Houston had a helluva lot of foresight. I hope he continues to be correct.

PS I noticed the blaring omission of The Yellow Rose, the woman credited for 'distracting' Santa Ana prior to the attack at San Jacinto. I should have recognized that as a myth!!!

This is a must read for any Texan or anyone with an interest in this little nation of ours.

H.W. Brands is far and away my favorite historical non-fiction writer.

This book is phenomenal, truly one of the best that I've ever taken the time to read. This is the first book by Brands that I've ever picked up, and I have to say that he lives up to his reputation as one of America's foremost historians. "Lone Star Nation" recounts the events of the glorious struggle that led to Texas becoming an independent republic and eventually a part of the United States. Ordinary people came here to better their lives, and when a despotic military dictator named Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna attempted to subjugate them and strip them of their liberty they courageously grabbed their rifles and rose in revolt. They originated the defiant fighting spirit with which Texas has become synonymous, refusing to follow orders even from their elected leaders, and spread frontier democracy and American freedom in the process. The Texas revolution made heroes out of men like Houston and Austin, martyrs out of Crockett, Bowie, Travis, and many others. Brands tells their story so well the reader feels as if he is there in that era, reading the events in the local newspaper rather than from the pages of a history book.

Wonderfully researched book that illustrates the truth about the birth of the great State of Texas; couldn't put it down.

I found myself skimming through this one and reading highlights only. I added to my list a couple of years back after seeing one of the Alamo movies, but it couldn't hold all of my attention when it came up again.

This is a strong effort, very readable, and a good history of how Texas became a destination for American settlers and later became independent from Mexico, subsequently annexed by the United States. This does not include the strident jingoism that seems to pervade movies about the Alamo - the book even points out that the proud claim in Texas textbooks about the state being an independent country is misleading, as there was always a prevailing expectation that Texas would become part of the United States. In fact it seems that Texas was not annexed anywhere near as quickly as might have been expected.

Sources are balanced, many and detailed, including extensive sources from Mexico, and it becomes easier to understand that the emergence of Texas was as much a part of Jacksonian western expansion as anything. While the people emigrating to Texas did expect to become Mexican citizens, as shown by Stephen Austin's example, the mindset became American, and even the Mexicans perceived that the bounteous country was being developed by American entrepreneurism, not by Mexican landholders. Another element that the book particularly brings to the fore is the lack of organization of the army fighting against Santa Anna, that this was a motley group of volunteers who might or might not take orders - quite a contrast to Santa Anna's trained army, which reflects the discipline and organization, also tactics, of European armies at the time (so badly dispelled later in WW1).

I read this in anticipation of a trip to San Antonio, Austin, and the region, and it was a good choice.

Not sure if it was the topic or what but I just didn't enjoy this a much as the author's book on Grant. Took me much longer to finish this one, that's for sure. Having attended public schools in Texas my entire life, it's possible I've been too heavily steeped in Texas history (and myth) to ever find it interesting.

“Remember the ladies.” Not in this case.

I greatly appreciate that Brands avoids the trap of either carrying forward legends or tearing them down. His is a more authentic history-telling based on evidence. Where there are differing details in the record, he says so. Many of the Texas history stories focus on the lives of the “heroes” after they arrived in the area. Brands presents their backgrounds in proportionate detail, which puts their later actions and beliefs into a larger context.

Regretfully, however, he has conveniently disregarded the role of any women in the Texas story. I’m not calling for political correctness, but the historical truth. Focusing only on the men distorts the story of Texas history.

Given that missing element, I still recommend this book over many others on the formation of Texas.

I appreciate Texas history more now than when I took the required class in 7th grade! Now that I live about 15 miles from Washington-on-the-Brazos, and a field trip to San Felipe de Austin is for the Texas Master Naturalist Training class in archeology, I understand more about this early history of Texas.

One of the best written history books I've read in some time. It reads a lot like a novel and has some great insights into American, Mexican life in early 19th century and beyond! If you love Texas, early American history you will love this!

This is one of those books that somehow slipped through the cracks.....it came out 16 years ago and I never picked it up. Now, thanks to the coronavirus, I was looking for something to read and came across a brand new copy and wondered how I had missed it since I will buy just about anything and everything relating to Texas history.

Exhaustive 526-page tome with hundreds of footnotes and sources cited which takes the reader back to the days before the Spanish came, then through the Spanish conquest of what was to become Texas, through the turbulent Santa Anna years and the battle for independence, culminating with the Civil War.

Highly readable and enjoyable with many sources cited that don't get cited in your standard "history of" books. If there is one problem, it is the author's over-reliance perhaps on the diaries of Jose De la Pena which some people still question as to whether or not it is an authentic first-person narrative written at the time (1835-36) or later. Presumably, the diaries are authentic, in which case they do offer an in-depth look at the battle for Texas independence, but there will always be those who question the authenticity of them.

If you're looking for a concise history of the Lone Star State in it's early formative years and are interested in more than just the battle of the Alamo, Goliad and San Jacinto, it's never too late to pick up a copy. If you're more interested in those battles, there are many, many books written about them, particularly about the Alamo.