Alamo Images: Changing Perceptions of a Texas Experience by Susan Prendergast Schoelwer

Abstract

364 Western American Literature Graham discusses how specific geographic areas of Texas have been treated by more than fifty writers, each section followed then by excerpts from their works, punctuated by pictures from Nell Blakely's 223-county trek across the state. Along the way, Graham demonstrates that Texas-good, bad, ugly, and always impressive-has been an irresistible topic for literature as long as writers have visited there. The authors and their treatments of Texas are as various as the state's topography, and their reactions run the whole range of possibilities from awe to disgust. Unfortunately, Graham includes only a handful of native Texas writers in his study and only speaks of a few of their books, concentrating instead on outsiders' views of the state: and he assumes his readers are already familiar with homegrown talent, whom he staunchly if elliptically defends. The portrait is, thus, naggingly incomplete, a flaw that is underscored by his closing argument that those who live in and write about Texas shouldn't feel inferior about it. One tends to wonder in this study where such names as Winston Estes are; but then, Graham ignores almost all of Texas north of 1"20 and east of the Caprock, except Archer City (Mdvfurtry's hometown), and he says little about the Hill Country writers. Instead of the excerpts, I would have preferred to read more of Graham's informed evaluations of Texas' Qwn authors. In addition, Graham could have omitted Blakely's b&w snapshots; most tourists can do better with Instamatics. But portraits are personal things, not intended to reveal all. Even though there is still a need for a comprehensive study of native Texas writers, Graham's book offers an enjoyable and informative picture of Texas in literature , and it argues effectively for the quality of the topic, regardless of who, Texan or "foreigner," produces it. Graham is an intelligent, informed scholar, a graceful and personable writer whose prose is refreshing and pithy; and, like Texas itself, the book's merits so far outweigh its flaws, that it is a distinguished addition to the gallery of western American literature. R. C. REYNOLDS Lamar University Alamo Images: Changing Perceptions of a Texas Experience. By Susan dergast Schoelwer. (Dallas: DeGolyer Library and Southern Methodist Uni. versity Press, 1985. 223 pages, $22.95.) According to the popular myth, 183 Anglo-Texans decided to defend Alamo. They would buy some time for Sam Houston to organize an army large enough to meet the forces of Santa Anna. Vlilliam B. Travis drew a in the dust. Those who wanted to fight would step across the line. Those wanted to leave were free to do so. Everyone chose to stay. For thirteen U'"'"''',,'", Reviews 365 the Texans withstood incessant shelling and defeated numerous charges, slaughtering Mexicans by the hundreds. Finally, just as Davy Crockett threw a torch to blow up the powder magazine, they were overwhelmed; but no one surrendered, 183 men fought to the death to save Texas. According to the best historical evidence, the Alamo did not need to be defended, and Houston's army was decreased in size by the defeat. Many Texans, learning of Santa Anna's victory at the Alamo, left Houston's army, taking their families east to safety. Several of the defenders at the Alamo were Tejanos, Mexicans fighting for Texas. Travis did not draw his famous line, and one--Louis Rose-went over the wall rather than stay and fight. Travis may have made a stirring speech, but the one we have was written primarily by the author of a textbook. Davy Crockett and about five others did surrender and were tortured and then executed. A man named Robert Evans tried to blow up the powder room but failed. What has been called the "Second Battle of the Alamo" was a struggle between factions with different theories of what the memorial should be. One group wanted to forget what actually happened at the Alamo and create a better story, one that would glorify Anglo Texans. The other group wanted to pay attention to facts. The victory for the revisionists was so complete that a poster of John Wayne's film about the...