Alamo in the Ardennes: The Untold Story of the American Soldiers Who Made the Defense of Bastogne Possible

Book Description

At last, here is a book that tells the full story of the turning point in World War II’s Battle of the Bulge—the story of five crucial days in which small groups of American soldiers, some outnumbered ten to one, slowed the German advance and allowed the Belgian town of Bastogne to be reinforced. Alamo in the Ardennes provides a compelling, day-by-day account of this pivotal moment in America's greatest war.

Customer Reviews:

History Buff.......2007-09-03

I learned a lot about the men who fought at the beginging of the Battle Of The Bulge that I had not heard about before. This book is a must for anyone who has read other books about the Battle Of The Bulge.

Finally, recognition for the 28th Division.......2007-08-07

As a Pennsylvanian and the son of a member of the 110th Infantry Regiment, 28th Division, I've long been familiar with the state's National Guard division history in both World Wars. This book is the best I've found to focus on the unit's major role in the Battle of the Bulge. Great details of their valiant stand against overwhelming German forces. With close-up descriptions of what the soldiers experienced, often in their own words, McManus has authored an important work for anyone interested in the face of battle as seen from the foxhole. Very good look at the tactics officers and men utilized to hold back the German attack "at all costs."

Another gutwrencher.......2007-06-18

While I don't usually like books that are entitled "The Untold Story of..., this one actually produces. I have read a of books on WW2, and in particular, on the battle of the bulge. My interest heightened when I found I had a family member who fought in the battle, but who I was unable to talk to about it before he passed.

Though many books have been written on the battle, none seem to really get it all together. Three have been written recently that don't attempt to cover the whole battle, but focus on the events surrounding smaller units, or even individual soldiers, and what the battle was like for them.
These three recent books are "Eleven Days in December", "The Longest Winter", and now "Alamo In The Ardennes. All just great books fully worthy of your time, but Alamo is a little different in that it attempts to give credit to the 28th Division for saving Bastogne, perhaps even more so than that of the 101st Airborne, the unit usually, and correctly, given most of the credit for the epic stand that broke the German offensive.

Read this excellently written book and you might tend to agree that the 28th deserves at least as much credit as the more famous 101st. You will also get probably as close as you ever will, from the written word, to underestanding what it was like for our 19 and 20 year old citizen soldiers caught in one of the most vicious battles of WW2. Were the young men of these divisions part of our greatest generation? Absolutely, they could have written that book themselves.

Excellent Book.......2007-05-29

I bought the book after seeing a story about it the alumni magazine of the university at which the author teaches history. I'm glad I did because it was an excellent book. I've read two other books on World War II including one by Stephen Ambrose and I would rate this one up there with Stephen Ambrose. I would definitely recommend the book.

Little known action that prepared for the 'saving' of the day.......2007-05-26

John McManus is establishing himself as one of the leading scholars in the Second World War genre. With his latest book, "Alamo in the Ardennes: The Untold Story of the American Soldiers Who Made the Defense of Bastogne Possible", McManus scores a solid hit, both in terms of enjoyable and readable prose, and relative to filling a void in the historical literature. Many WWII-oriented books of late have subtitles including the words "The Untold Story..." and too few live up to their own hype. By contrast, McManus' book does in fact tell an otherwise untold (at least as a complete narrative limited to the Bastogne corridor) story. This fact alone makes "Alamo in the Ardennes" worthy of a read by anyone interested in the Battle of the Bulge, since all are familiar with the stand of the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne - this gallant action is branded in the American psyche - but few likely have a good picture of how American forces already in Belgium slowed the German drive sufficiently to provide enough time for the praised (deserved) 101st to get from their base in Mourmelon, France to the critical crossroads town of Bastogne in order to defend against the eventual siege. In fact, as McManus argues, the actions of the US Army in the Bastogne corridor likely determined that the eventual siege of Bastogne was in fact a siege instead of a Blitz through the region as might have occurred had the Germans reached Bastogne early in strength.

The central characters in "Alamo in the Ardennes" are the combat soldiers of the 28th ('Bloodybucket') Infantry Division, Combat Command Reserve (CCR) of the 9th Armored Division, and Combat Command B (CCB) of the 10th Armored Division. While McManus also integrates information about coordinated actions with smaller unit of the 101st Airborne, most of story is focused on the aforementioned units and their variously attached commands. Topographically the story revolves not so much around Bastogne but the so called 'Bastogne corridor', which McManus defines as roughly the 25 mile front held by the 28th before the German attack - approximately from Lutzkampen on the north to Bettendorf and Reisdorf in the south. This area was extremely important from a tactical standpoint relative to the movement of armored and vehicular traffic, as the roads running west in this region are some of the best in the Ardennes and Eiffel; certainly the quickest and most direct route to Bastogne lead through this area. McManus in now way minimizes actions in other regions of the Ardennes (e.g., northern shoulder actions) or the siege of Bastogne itself, but rather presents a compelling and exciting story that focuses on men and places cites above.

In general the book follows a chronological format, which works well to tell the story McManus wishes to convey. He begins the formal discussion of events with some chronologically mixed views of the Ardennes and actions on the Allied side prior to, and during, the initial German attack phases. This 'preface' chapter places the whole of the "Bastogne corridor' in nice perspective relative to the larger Battle of the Bulge. With the exception of the final 'Postscript' (conclusionary/summary) chapter, McManus devotes each chapter to a single day of action, beginning with 15 December and ending with the 20th, when the formal siege of Bastogne. In chaptering his book in this fashion McManus is able to pull the reader along the events as they unfolded. On a less positive note, focusing material along chronological lines rather than unit or geographical lines makes for often 'choppy' prose that one has to 'think' about a bit sometimes. This criticism could have been lessened considerably had the excellent maps McManus provides been cross-referenced within the text and a greater effort at sectioning within chapters been made. Yet, these are not fatal flaws and the book still conveys an important story in a readable form, that while not necessary impossible to put down, is nonetheless compelling.

In addition to the chapters outlined above McManus also provides ~20 pages of abbreviated TO/OB, personnel and map information that many readers will find useful. McManus' 'Notes' section of the book is extremely thorough and detailed. The one criticism that this reviewer would however have would be that the Notes are not cited in a very useful fashion in the text proper. Large sections of prose with multiple (oft disconnected) references/citations are generally clumped together as single footnotes, making backtracking of McManus' research very difficult. Of course this is a minor criticism unless someone is trying to delve deeper into the topic, in which case this approach will certainly cause some anxiety.

All in all "Alamo in the Ardennes" is a solid and very thoroughly researched book that provides a new vision of the Battle of the Bulge, at least in terms of capturing the importance of the "Bastogne corridor' in the eventual defense of Bastogne by the 101st Airborne. 4.5 stars for academic standard, 4 for general reader accessibility - solid 4 star book.

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An astute and well written history book.
Good for Most
Good history
Nice broad perspective
Spreading the Myth

A Line In The Sand
Randy Roberts , and James S. Olson
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

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The Tainted Desert: Environmental Ruin in the American West

ASIN: 0684835444

Book Description

In late February and early March of 1836, the Mexican Army under the command of General Antonio López de Santa Anna besieged a small force of Anglo and Tejano rebels at a mission known as the Alamo. The defenders of the Alamo were in an impossible situation. They knew very little of the events taking place outside the mission walls. They did not have much of an understanding of Santa Anna or of his government in Mexico City. They sent out contradictory messages, they received contradictory communications, they moved blindly and planned in the dark. And in the dark early morning of March 6, they died.

In that brief, confusing, and deadly encounter, one of America's most potent symbols was born. The story of the last stand at the Alamo grew from a Texas rallying cry, to a national slogan, to a phenomenon of popular culture and presidential politics. Yet it has been a hotly contested symbol from the first. Questions remain about what really happened: Did William Travis really draw a line in the sand? Did Davy Crockett die fighting, surrounded by the bodies of two dozen of the enemy? And what of the participants' motives and purposes? Were the Texans justified in their rebellion? Were they sincere patriots making a last stand for freedom and liberty, or were they a ragtag collection of greedy men-on-the-make, washed-up politicians, and backwoods bullies, Americans bent on extending American slavery into a foreign land?

The full story of the Alamo -- from the weeks and months that led up to the fateful encounter to the movies and speeches that continue to remember it today -- is a quintessential story of America's past and a fascinating window into our collective memory. In A Line in the Sand, acclaimed historians Randy Roberts and James Olson use a wealth of archival sources, including the diary of José Enrique de la Peña, along with important and little-used Mexican documents, to retell the story of the Alamo for a new generation of Americans. They explain what happened from the perspective of all parties, not just Anglo and Mexican soldiers, but also Tejano allies and bystanders. They delve anew into the mysteries of Crockett's final hours and Travis's famous rhetoric. Finally, they show how preservationists, television and movie producers, historians, and politicians have become the Alamo's major interpreters. Walt Disney, John Wayne, and scores of journalists and cultural critics have used the Alamo to contest the very meaning of America, and thereby helped us all to "remember the Alamo."

Download Description

San Antonio, Texas, 1836. A Mexican army led by Santa Anna attacks a small fort called the Alamo. Disputes still rage over exactly what happened, why it happened, and how it should be remembered. Indeed, the battles fought over the memory of the Alamo have been almost as fierce as their subject. In a riveting combination of history and cultural analysis, historians Randy Roberts and James N. Olson blend a rich narrative of the battle -- told from the perspectives of both the Anglo and Mexican troops -- drawing from a wide range of sources, including newly released documents from Mexican military archives and just-discovered pages of the famous de la Pena diary. Still controversial after all these years, the events at the Alamo pose some fascinating questions: Did Crockett really die a hero, or did he surrender before a summary execution? And why have Americans built a shrine for an event that lasted no more than ninety minutes, and inflated it into one of the country's biggest tourist attractions? A full explanation of the San Antonio encounter requires a peeling back of many layers. With powerful writing, Roberts and Olson retell the story of a great American myth, and show how and why it endures. This original volume is sure to change the way readers "Remember the Alamo".

Customer Reviews:

An astute and well written history book........2007-03-07

It was a pleasure to read this book, very informative, well researched and finely written. Whatever your views are of the Alamo and its place in the history of Texas; this book was written by two astute historians with a careful attention to detail with reasoned views and opinions.

Brief but informative and concise histories are given of Travis, Crockett, Bowie, Santa Anna and the events that lead them to a common junction at the Alamo in 1836. My only exposure to the Alamo before this book was the John Wayne movie, so it was great to be able to read this professional account of the history of the Alamo and also its post history into the 21st century.

The authors also make the valid point that native Indians occupied Texas for hundreds of years before any Spanish, Mexican or Anglo claims on it. The history of Texas comes alive in this book and the authors have done a great job as this book is flows smoothly and logically and is accessible to the general history buff.

Good for Most.......2007-01-12

It was no big surprise to read about Santa Anna's negative effects on Mexico. Once you get through the first part of the book you'll have an easier time turning the pages.

Even for a native Texan, the book was definitely not what you'd expect of Travis if you've watched too many Alamo movies. If you're from South Texas you'll probably be surprised when you get near the end of the book.

The story of the battle and politicians of the time was quite interesting and kept my interest more than most parts. It's worth reading, but make sure to visit the Texan Cultures Institute too.

Good history.......2005-09-30

I was assigned to read this in a Texas history class at UT Arlington. So I expected it to be the typical politically correct, leftist, white-bashing I'd grown so accustomed to. I was pleasantly surprised. This book is honest and fair with all sides. It's what historians should strive for because it doesn't take sides. Roberts goes after truth, no matter who gets offended. And yes, sometimes that's the Mexicans. I was shocked to learn all about how Col. Travis abandoned his family, but I was impressed by his courage to the end. Now I feel certain that Santa Ana is the worst thing that ever happened to Mexico. And some of his generals were skilful enough to have won the war and honorable enough to have not executed Texas POWs. I highly recommend the book for anyone who wants to understand this major piece of American history.

Nice broad perspective.......2004-06-08

Just because this book does not agree 100% with Jeff Long is no reason to condemn it. A topic like the Alamo is supposed to include room for debate and disagreement. Although the book may have been written partly in response to Long's version of the Alamo, I feel it also serves as a viable alternative to the current dominant historiography on the Alamo (Hardin and Huffines are good, but they would agree, I think, that theirs is not the "last word"). This is a balanced account which, as other reviewers have noted, includes a complete post-1836 history of the Alamo. A good example of the common-sense historical honesty in this book comes in part of the authors' treatment of the Crockett debate: "...what had been the end of Davy Crockett?...Scores of people had an answer to the question, but their answers banged against one another, knocking silly any hope of discovering the truth."(p.196) There will never be a "last word" on the Alamo, but I do recommend this book to those interested in the topic.

Spreading the Myth.......2004-04-20

Do not be fooled by what this book aspires to be. The authors claim this is an even-handed, accurate retelling of the Battle of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution, but it adds nothing new to the oversimplified accounts you'd find in a 4th grade Texas history book.
The book tries still portrays the Alamo defenders as flawless men of great honor... mythical heroes fighting for a just cause. They try to argue that the Texas Revolution was similar to the American Revolution. They could not be further from the truth; The two events had little in common. The Texas Revolution consisted of a group of opportunistic American settlers who took advantage of the internal turmoils in Mexico at the time to seize a piece of property they had long set their eyes on. It was a prime example of Manifest Destiny at it's most voracious, if you'd like to put a label on it.
The Mexican side of the story gets lost in this book, despite the authors' claim at being unbiased. If you'd like to read an informative book on the subject, pick up Jeff Long's "Duel of the Eagles". That book is indeed an eye-opener (at least for the open-minded). On the other hand, this book might as well had been written by the Daughters of the Texas Revolution for distribution at the Alamo gift shop! It's a badly written history book.

Duel of Eagles: The Mexican and U.S. Fight for the Alamo

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Overly Cynical Revisionism Detracts from the Work
Revisionist
Nothing ever changes
Finally, an honest look at Texas' sacred cow
Beautifully written, marvelous scholarship

Duel of Eagles: The Mexican and U.S. Fight for the Alamo
Jeff Long
Manufacturer: William Morrow & Co
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Mexico | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

Empire of Bones: A Novel of Sam Houston and the Texas Revolution
Alamo Traces: New Evidence and New Conclusions
The Country Under My Skin: A Memoir of Love and War
A Time to Stand
Texian Iliad: A Military History of the Texas Revolution

ASIN: 0688072526

Customer Reviews:

Overly Cynical Revisionism Detracts from the Work.......2006-07-07

The book provides a nice in-depth overview of the origins of the conflict between the Mexicans and the Texans. The description of the conflict and the Alamo Battle itself, are also well done. Unfortunately, the revisionism is written from one of the most cynical perspectives I have ever read in my entire life, and detracts from the quality of the work. To the reader, it seems that author casts most every person in the History of this conflict as overly self-serving in their motives, and contemptuous of everyone else. Any source of human conflict -- even between the various races of people within the Mexican Army -- is amplified as overly divisive. One can forget any hint of Crockett, Bowie or Travis possessing even a scintilla of idealism or purity in motive. In fact, with little exception, hardly any person within the book seems to possess many mentionable good qualities, according to the author. Long seemingly strives to debunk the myths, but in my view he is too harsh in trying to eviscerate people's characters. If you are searching for a work which validates your most cynical view not only of the Alamo but of most of the entire human race, this book will not disappoint you.

Revisionist.......2006-04-03

Some revisionist points need to be made in the interest of the whole truth, but the author is one-sided to a fault. The book is glib, full of sweeping statements, a work of opinion and propaganda, not history.

In our time, people are so used to the idea of the U.S. as the great world power that they may have trouble in understanding that in the 1830s, on the world stage, the U.S. was a minor, upstart country with an uncertain future. Mexico, on the other hand, even after its disastrous War of Independence, was perceived as the heir apparent of the fabled wealth of New Spain. Hindsight is made out to be 20-20 vision, but it is not if it prevents one from understanding how things were and how they were perceived at the time. In this way, our knowledge of what was then the future can impede our understanding of the past.

Nothing ever changes.......2004-10-29

It seems that americans have been heroicly saving the world in the name of freedom and liberty since the beginning of their glorious history. They just wanted to liberate the mexican peasants from tyranie just like they are liberating the iraquis today.

God bless the U.S.A indeed.

Finally, an honest look at Texas' sacred cow.......2004-04-19

I find Jeff Long's retelling of the Alamo fable refreshingly (if brutally) honest and well documented. He debunks alot of of the myths that surround the Battle of the Alamo. He is particarly good at providing an extensive background to the conflict. Growing up in Texas, and studying the state's History in the 4th and 7th grade, it was never too clear what the reasons behind the war were. All I was told is that a group of brave men stood fast against unsurmountable tyranny and sacrified their lives for the ultimate price of freedom. But to say that the Texas revolution was a war for independence is oversimplifying the issue... it is like saying the Civil War was just a war to end slavery. Now, some folks are fine with these simple definitions... and if you are the type of person that likes their history in neat little anecdotes and who wants their heroes to wear white and their villains to wear black, then this might not be the book for you. Reading through it the first time, I was sure that just as it opened my eyes it was going to get others very angry. Over the years, discussing this books with others that have read it has revealed this to be true.
There are many out there that feel this is book is biased and inflammatory. This could be true if Mr. Long was simply stating an opinion. But, the book is extremely well researched, and all his sources are listed for the world to see. If you don't think he is being fair in his assessment of the conflict, then look up the sources... he is not hiding anything. If it is biased, it certainly is not more so than the history books we were given to read at school. In fact, those books carried more of an agenda, and Mr. Longs account is far more accurate and even-handed.
Some legends are hard to die, and I am sure that regardless of how many books like this one are written some people will continue believing that Crockett died in a blaze of glory with his coonskin hat still on his head, and that Travis and Bowie were freedom loving martyrs that had no human fault. I applaud Mr. Longs for providing a well-researched alternative to this view, and for giving us an extensive background on the events and ideologies that lead to the conflict and the consequences that followed. If you are a real history buff that is interested in facts and who likes to get the larger picture, this book is definitely recommended. If not... then I suggest just sticking to John Wayne's 1960 melodrama for familiarity. It's available on DVD on this website as well, I'm sure.

Beautifully written, marvelous scholarship.......2004-04-19

This book is an accomplishment on many fronts. It digs where no one else wants to dig, which is the true hallmark of a historian. It reveals truths that entrenched and calcified communities wish to hide -- a sign of high scholarship and meaningful journalism. Best of all, it is wonderfully written. Jeff Long spends as much time providing ambience and atmosphere than the usual historian. You are transported there. This book is much more interesting that the childish fairytales surrounding the Alamo and Texas "independence." Thanks for expecting that your readers are adults. You won't find any pandering in this book.

Uniforms of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution and the Men who Wore Them 1835-1836

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Uniforms of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution and the Men who Wore Them 1835-1836
Bruce Marshall
Manufacturer: Schiffer Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0764317784

To Conquer a Peace: The War Between the United States and Mexico (Texas A & M University Military History)

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To Conquer a Peace: The War Between the United States and Mexico (Texas A & M University Military History)
John Edward Weems
Manufacturer: Texas A&M University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Mexico | Americas | History | Subjects | Books

General | Military | History | Subjects | Books

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BOWIE
Bowie
Exciting, lively storytelling at it's best.

Bowie: A Novel
Randy Lee Eickhoff , and Leonard C. Lewis
Manufacturer: Forge Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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And Not to Yield : A Novel of the Life and Times of Wild Bill Hickok
The Fourth Horseman
The Raid: A Dramatic Retelling of Ireland's Epic Tale (Ulster Cycle)

ASIN: 0312866194

Book Description

Jim Bowie, the descendant of Highland Scots, grew up riding alligators and working the field on the Texas frontier. Taught three languages and a sense of honor, he went on to live a life filled with brawls and battles, loves and loses. This is his story, as told by those who, whether they loved or hated him, were united by their awe of this amazing frontiersman.

Customer Reviews:

BOWIE.......2000-05-16

BOWIE IS ONE OF THE BEST FICTIONAL BIOGARPHY I'VE EVER READ. A MAGNIFICANT ACHIVEMENT OF FACT SUPPORTING FICTION TO RE-CREAT A STORY IN WORDS THAT WILL BRING TEARS TO YOUR EYES AND A LUMP TO YOUR THROAT.THE AWSOME TASK OF BIOGAPHICAL NOVELIST IS TO GATHER UP THE BONES OF LONG-DEAD PEOPLE AND BEREATH LIFE BACK INTO THEM.

Bowie.......1999-11-25

The author seemed so knowledgeable on the subject of Jim Bowie. I didn't know some of the stories myself. I often wondered what went on prior to The Alamo and now I know. I would like to see the same type of Book come out about Crockett and Travis.

Exciting, lively storytelling at it's best........1998-10-17

Eickhoff and Lewis have teamed together to compose the most complete account of a complicated, often oversimplified man. As a hero of the Alamo, James Bowie has been the victim of many myths. I believe Eickhoff and Lewis succeed at erasing the myths, yet keeping the mystery and magical qualities that seemed to surround the man, who some called "El Leon", or the lion, because of his impressive mane of red hair. Lewis published an article about Bowie last year, where he gave us a taste of what was to come in this book, Bowie. I recommend it, expecially the magical telling of the forging of the infamous knife that became Bowie's trademark.

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Fascinating, fast-paced reading with great insights into American folk heroes, based on thorough and solid research
BIG Texas - Is History
Even this non Texan enjoyed this interesting, insightful story

Goliad: The Other Alamo
William R. Bradle
Manufacturer: Pelican Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Encyclopedia of the Alamo and the Texas Revolution

ASIN: 1589804570

Book Description

Personal stories of tragedy, bravery, ego, and cowardice in this often-overlooked battle for Texas independence. This fast-moving narrative presents the struggles of the participants, both Texan and Mexican, and reveals the overriding egos and bad planning on both sides of the war. By the beginning of the 19th century, the revolution against Spanish rule in the Americas and the westward expansion of the United States caught Texas in the middle of a battle for independence. On March 6, 1836, a Mexican army of 6,000 soldiers attacked and killed 189 revolutionaries in the Alamo. Exactly three weeks later, 342 surrendered Texans were executed at Goliad, the lesser-known of these two important battles.

Customer Reviews:

Fascinating, fast-paced reading with great insights into American folk heroes, based on thorough and solid research.......2007-09-22

You don't have to be a Texas history junkie to enjoy this well done and very readable story. "Goliad" chronicles the issues, events, decisions and people (a few wise, many otherwise) that led to Santa Anna's massacre of the band of American soldiers who opted to surrender rather than defend the fort at Goliad. The book raises all kinds of interesting questions such as "Why did so many military leaders think it was important to defend fixed positions which may have been strategically meaningless?" I personally found the portrayal of, and insights into, Sam Houston particularly interesting. Houston comes across as notably superior to most of his counterparts, both in terms of his independent, pragmatic thinking and his ability to expect the unexpected. Meanwhile most of his peers held to the conventional wisdom (like the Mexicans would never attack during the winter, or cross a given river at a particular spot) - all of which contributed to their eventual demise.

Bill Bradle should have started writing earlier in his career as we all would have been the beneficiaries. Given his command of history and military strategy, I would enjoy seeing him tackle the question of just how much wiser and better prepared for today's brand of warfare our current military leaders are compared to those of two centuries ago. It would be an interesting assessment. We've made great progress in the science, strategy and tactics of warfare, yet the challenges we find ourselves facing so frequently today still seem to remain one or two steps ahead of our leaders' knowledge, assumptions, plans and abilities. Why is that and how can we close the gap? Mr. Bradle I await your answers.

BIG Texas - Is History.......2007-06-25

Great book. Enjoyed every page. I consider myself a Texan but didn't get to Texas until my 20's which meant I missed learning how the Republic of Texas was founded. Being a non-native Texan, I knew the history of the Alamo (been there too) but knew nothing of the massacre at Goliad. Very interesting. I have read several books on Texas history, most written by people that are hooked on their subjects. They were generally poorly written, telling the same stories over and over for 200 pages but no this one. Well written and takes you through the events leading up to Goliad and the final battle. What I find amazing about the people that lived through these times are the things they did afterward and how long they lived. The story here lives.

Even this non Texan enjoyed this interesting, insightful story.......2007-05-19

From what they tell about this writer in his bio, his background is business and finance, but his passion is history. Well, it's a great combination because Bradle brings the critical eye of an MBA to the motives, methods, logic, actions and reactions of the many colorful players in the fall of Goliad. I just finished an epic bio of Thomas Edison and his era, and it read like the encyclopedia - no, it wasn't even that much pleasure. This book is a compelling, enjoyable (well, if slaughter can be enjoyable) read and a page turner. If you're a history buff like me, or just someone who likes keen insight into human behavior and misbehavior, it's a steal. Besides, the story of Goliad makes for some great anecdotes and is sure to come up on Jeopardy, sometime soon. Buy it, read it, pass it along.

The Nuclear Borderlands: The Manhattan Project in Post-Cold War New Mexico

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The Nuclear Borderlands: The Manhattan Project in Post-Cold War New Mexico
Joseph Masco
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0691120773

Book Description

The Nuclear Borderlands explores the sociocultural fallout of twentieth-century America's premier technoscientific project--the atomic bomb. Joseph Masco offers the first anthropological study of the long-term consequences of the Manhattan Project for the people that live in and around Los Alamos, New Mexico, where the first atomic bomb, and the majority of weapons in the current U.S. nuclear arsenal, were designed. Masco examines how diverse groups--weapons scientists at Los Alamos National Laboratory, neighboring Pueblo Indian Nations and Nuevomexicano communities, and antinuclear activists--have engaged the U.S. nuclear weapons project in the post-Cold War period, mobilizing to debate and redefine what constitutes "national security."

In a pathbreaking ethnographic analysis, Masco argues that the U.S. focus on potential nuclear apocalypse during the Cold War obscured the broader effects of the nuclear complex on American society. The atomic bomb, he demonstrates, is not just the engine of American technoscientific modernity; it has produced a new cognitive orientation toward everyday life, provoking cross-cultural experiences of what Masco calls a "nuclear uncanny." Revealing how the bomb has reconfigured concepts of time, nature, race, and citizenship, the book provides new theoretical perspectives on the origin and logic of U.S. national security culture. The Nuclear Borderlands ultimately assesses the efforts of the nuclear security state to reinvent itself in a post-Cold War world, and in so doing exposes the nuclear logic supporting the twenty-first-century U.S. war on terrorism.

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Must-read History of the Battle of the Alamo
While waiting at the airport............
Great introduction to Alamo history
The Real Story, without the Spin
The Texas Bible

A Time to Stand
Walter Lord
Manufacturer: Bison Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

13 Days to Glory: The Siege of the Alamo (Southwest Landmark, No. 2)
Three Roads to the Alamo: The Lives and Fortunes of David Crockett, James Bowie, and William Barret Travis
Alamo Traces: New Evidence and New Conclusions
The Alamo
Texian Iliad: A Military History of the Texas Revolution

ASIN: 0803279027

Book Description

On the morning of March 6, 1836, in an old abandoned mission called the Alamo, a small Texas garrison fought to the death rather than yield to an overwhelming army of Mexicans. Through the years the garrison’s heroic stand has become so clothed in folklore and romance that the truth has nearly been lost. In A Time to Stand Walter Lord rediscovers and recreates the whole fascinating story. From contemporary documents, diaries, and letters, he has mined a wealth of fresh information that throws intriguing sidelights on the epic of the Alamo. What were the defenders like? Why did they take their stand? Did any escape? Did Davy Crockett surrender?

The cast of characters includes not only famous figures like Jim Bowie but unknown, unsung men: John Purdy Reynolds, the wandering Pennsylvania surgeon; George Kimball, the industrious New York hatter, Micajah Autry of Tennessee, who was a far better poet than a businessman. And then there are the Mexicans: the fabulous Santa Anna; the smooth Colonel Almonte; the forlorn private Juan Basquez, who only wanted to stay home and make shoes.

Customer Reviews:

Must-read History of the Battle of the Alamo.......2007-09-19

Walter Lord's "A Time to Stand" is a great history of the Battle of the Alamo for the general reader. This short, readable book should be read by every American to get the basic history of one of the most famous battles in American history.

Lord tells the story of the Battle of the Alamo, and the campaign leading up to it, in an easy-to-read yet detailed narrative without getting bogged down in details. He brings life to many of the famous and less-than-famous defenders. He also describes the political climate in Texas and the United States and why the Battle of the Alamo, a loss for the Texans, was so important in Texas' journey to independence.

Just as importantly, though, Lord continues the story beyond the fall of the Alamo. He continues the campaign to its conclusion as Sam Houston and his Texans destroy Santa Ana's army at San Jacinto, with "Remember the Alamo" as their battle cry.

While waiting at the airport...................2007-08-20

While waiting for a flight out of the San Antonio Airport, I happened across this book at the bookstand. I had just been at the Alamo itself days before and came away feeling like I needed to know more. (The Alamo had been somewhat crowded, and my wife and I had taken a brief self-guided walking tour of the site, with just the Alamo's park pamphlet as our guide......even more brief.)
I had asked the lady at the bookstore if this was a good book on the events at the battle of the Alamo. She stated that it was probably one of the better ones, since she had sold more copies of it in the shop than any other, and suprisingly was a reprint from the early 60's, and still going strong.
The book was fantastic. It was one that I had to read cover to cover, including the incredibly long "sources" list near the back. Walter Lord did his homework and then some.
With all the available books about the Alamo out there, this one is a must read.
Now, I just wish I had read this book before venturing to the Alamo. I would have spent three times the amount of time there, and appreciated more of where I was walking.

Great introduction to Alamo history.......2004-04-30

"A Time to Stand" is perhaps one of the best books ever written on the historic Battle of the Alamo. Walter Lord, a reporter turned non-fiction writer, focuses mainly on the general events that took place during the siege, rather than on specific character studies of the three main heroes (Travis, Bowie, Crockett), but that does not in any way tarnish the end result. His account is very vivid and detailed, and gives the reader a real sense of what it must have been like to be behind those old adobe walls. An good addition to the book is a fold-out map of the Alamo complex as it looked in 1836, plus various pictures and facsimiles of letters sprinkled throughout. A highly recommended read and wonderful introduction to the real story of the Alamo.

The Real Story, without the Spin.......2003-08-22

The battle of the Alamo is currently being fought all over again between Traditionalists, who present the "Texans as heros" view, and Revisionists, who view this heroic view with post-modern skepticism. Why is it being re-fought, and what is at stake? Simply, because the viewpoint that prevails will impact current social attitudes towards multi-culturism and racial diversity - a central motif of current American politics. Once again, the battle is fierce - with no mercy, and no prisoners. Deguello!

It is almost impossible to find an objective presentation of the facts without this modern political spin. As a remedy, I recommend the following considerations, before reading any book about the Alamo:

1.) Mexicans and Texians were at war. Both sides had extremely prejuidiced views of the event - such is war. These extreme views are the source materials for ALL writers of the history of the battle.

2.) All but a few of the Texians that were present at the battle died without telling their stories. The Mexican view had far more voices left afterwards to tell their version. Even so, the Texian's version has usually prevailed.

3.) Eyewitness reports are extremely contradictory. This is not suprising, considering that the climax events occured in the dark, within a small walled compound filled with black powder smoke, erupting cannons, fire, confusion, screams, panicked soldiers, etc.

4.) In a sentence, the war was between extremely independently minded American pioneers (regardless of their various personal agenda) and an army serving the will of an extremely controlling Mexican President (seeking rigorously centralized government power). In the simplest sense, the fight was between men who wanted minimal government influence on their lives, and a government who wanted maximum influence and control on their lives. (Somehow, this story always repeats itself.)

Nonetheless, as with all historical events, something of a coherent story can be tickled out of the confused mass of information. A good detective can "triangulate" the most probable facts of the event, if he or she approaches the information with common sense and a minimum of personal agenda.

I have read all but a few of the books available on the Alamo, and can attest that Walter Lord does one of the better, most complete, jobs of reporting the event objectively. He also does it within the shortest space - "A Time to Stand" is a comparatively brief book.

Revisionists will tell you that this book is "fluff", or biased - usually because they have a different bias they want to sell you. Beware the "historian" that has found "new information", has a "new and improved analysis", or who applies modern worldviews to an age when people saw the world differently. There is nothing new about rewriting history for political ends.

Walter Lord's "A Time to Stand" is the standard. Read it first, before you sample the works of the combatants in the new battle of the Alamo.

And read it before you watch the new movie, to be released Christmas 2003. With Revisionist Stephen Hardin as one of the historical advisors, it promises to be the Revisionist "Manifesto".

Just a few opinions from a world-wise Texan...

The Texas Bible.......2003-01-29

"A Time to Stand" was the first book about the Alamo I ever read (some forty years ago). With adrenalin still pumping after seeing the John Wayne film, I was desperate to know more. Now the adrenalin pumps every time I read this great book. Though other more recent books present more updated material, most "Alamophiles" agree that Walter Lord's version is the "Holy Grail" of all Alamo publications. Any person who reads other books on this subject, but fails to read "A Time to Stand", is getting only part of the story.

Three Roads to the Alamo: The Lives and Fortunes of David Crockett, James Bowie, and William Barret Travis

Average customer rating:

Three legends revealed
Glimpse behind the glory
Depends on what you're looking for
One Road Too Few
The Honored Dead

Three Roads to the Alamo: The Lives and Fortunes of David Crockett, James Bowie, and William Barret Travis
William C. Davis
Manufacturer: Harper Perennial
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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A Time to Stand

ASIN: 0060930942
Release Date: 1999-04-07

Amazon.com

Ever since the day in March 1836 when an obscure Spanish mission in Texas fell to Mexican forces led by President Santa Anna, Americans have been exhorted to "remember the Alamo." And remember it we do--primarily as the place where American folk legends Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William Travis met their end fighting for Texas independence. Though it is primarily the Alamo we remember today, the battle itself takes up just a few pages of William C. Davis's Three Roads to the Alamo; Davis is far more interested in what brought three such disparate men as Crockett, Bowie, and Travis to Texas in the first place than in how they died there. As any schoolchild knows, Davy Crockett was the "king of the wild frontier," a bona fide folk hero in his own time who rode his legend to political office first in Tennessee and then as a United States congressman. Bowie was both less well known and less heroic--a land speculator not above resorting to fraud and forgery to get what he wanted, while William Travis, the youngest of the three, brought little but potential with him to Texas.

Davis does a good job of illuminating both the personalities of his subjects and the situation in which they found themselves in Texas. He thoroughly explores the lives of these three men--their successes, their failures, their hopes for the future--and lays out the arguments for and against Texan independence from Mexico in which they found themselves embroiled. By the time Crockett, Bowie, and Travis finally arrive at the Alamo, it seems the inevitable conclusion to the roads they each have been traveling over the course of their lifetimes. Three Roads to the Alamo is a fine piece of historical research and an entertaining read, as well.

Book Description

Three Roads to the Alamo is the definitive book about the lives of David Crockett, James Bowie and William Barret Travis—the legendary frontiersmen and fighters who met their destiny at the Alamo in one of the most famous and tragic battles in American history—and about what really happened in that battle.

Customer Reviews:

Three legends revealed.......2006-12-14

This book is a very well conceived idea that tries to understand what happened at the Alamo through the eyes of three people. Each provides a different perspective to life in Texas and life in the United States in the time period leading up to the Alamo. A crook like Bowie has fled from land speculations schemes and is trying to make a name for himself in Texas. Travis has abandoned his family and gone to make an honest life and escape the debt he built up. Finally we have David Corckett the hero of Tennessee who has lost elections and patience with Andrew Jackson heading to Texas. All of these three have led colorful lives with Crockett being the most interesting. This book serves as a biography to all three while describing the importance of the Alamo to Texas. It is very well done and you find yourself going through the book very quickly. I highly recommend this to anyone who is interested in understanding what life looked like in the United States in the years leading up to the Alamo.

Glimpse behind the glory.......2006-10-23

William Davis, best known for his excellent works on the American War Between the States (oh, alright, "Civil War" if you insist) delves into the Texas Revolution with this work, and presents historians with an excellent glimpse at the three principal figures of the Alamo Siege. This triple biography gives an excellent in-depth look at the careers, motivations, and personal lives of three men on their march to an appointment with destiny.

I highly recommend all of Mr. Davis' works, especially "Deep Waters of the Proud" and "Look Away!"

Depends on what you're looking for.......2006-07-14

Davis is meticulous in his research, teasing from the legends what we know, what can be deduced, what is probable, improbable, and impossible. So, if you want scholarship, an in-depth understanding of the truth, as near as it can be determined, this book is great.

Davis' sketches of the personalities and characters of Crockett, Bowie and Travis were also impressive.

But, IMO, if you want a wallopping page-turner, look elsewhere.

One Road Too Few.......2006-03-27

OK, that is a bit of a negative title, so I want to start off saying that I really enjoyed this book. One of the problems with the story of the Alamo is that it all too often is isolated in the time during the battle and not much of the events and lives of the participants are ever explored. This leaves a story disconnected from all that ran up to it, all that caused it.

William C. Davis does an admirable job assembling the lives of three people who are somewhat elusive in the historical record until their "big day" at the Alamo (even Crocket has his blank spots in his history). It is important info that informs us all why these men were "that" Travis, Crocket and Bowie.

He gives them life in a narrative that quickly moves in a conversational style. Further, he does an admirable job not judging these men on today's more "civilized" standards, allowing us to come to know the men as they were, in their day, without being weighed down by modern approbations and regrettable "social" historical analysis so popular with too many historians.

Now the criticism: As my little review title suggests I feel that there was one road, one equally important, not explored that led to the Alamo. It is a road that is just as important as the other roads Davis explores; that of Travis, Crocket, and Bowie.

It is a road without which the Alamo would not have occurred, propelling the three heroes into American mythology. It is the road traveled by Santa Anna.

Of course, at 587 pages, this tome is already a bit larger than the average popular treatment of any particular historical event and it is probable that Davis struggled to keep the story under one thousand! Still, Santa Anna's journey was just as tumultuous, interesting and central to the story as Travis, Crocket, and Bowie's, and just as important.

Davis admits that he started with the idea of a Bowie bio, so it isn't surprising that he dwelled on Bowie more so than the other two. But, given the re-direction he took with his story a little less on Bowie could have sufficed as the story of Santa Anna was included.

After reading the book, I felt a hole in the story. Why, exactly, did the Mexicans do all they did? Not just during the months preceding the Alamo, but for the decade before. How did Santa Anna get to his position? What drove him to lay siege to the Alamo and that small band of Norteamericanos? I know Santa Anna is not the American hero that the other three are, but where is the hero without the villain?

In any case. This book is highly recommended for anyone wanting a well researched story of the actions and personalities that led up to the Alamo. Even with that one small detraction, I say read it!

By Warner Todd Huston

The Honored Dead.......2006-02-02

"This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

Author William C. Davis does not follow this advise and gives us the true story of these three icons of Texas. We find that aside from Crockett's three successful congressional campaigns and Travis' legal practice in Texas, these heroes were not very successful nor particularly honorable as that term is defined today. Bowie was an unsuccessful con artist who married his Tejano wife for her money and connections, Travis abandoned his pregnant wife in Alabama to evade a warrant for his arrest for debt, and Crockett was long estranged from his second wife at the time of his death. They were not exactly paragons of virtue but in the manner of their deaths they were and are heroes and that should not be forgotten, and Davis does not forget this. I am reminded of a line from another movie, Casablanca, in which Humphrey Bogart says, "They got a lucky break. Yesterday they were just two German clerks. Today they're the 'Honored Dead'." Bowie, Crockett and Travis are Texas' Honored Dead.

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