Texas (on the Road Histories): On-The-Road Histories

By Mary Jo Powell

Mary Jo Powell's Texas begins with a panorama of the vast Texas landscape, from the Piney Woods to Big Bend Country, before turning to the people of the land now called Texas. She begins with those who inhabited the area before the Spanish arrived, the story of the Alamo, the movement from independent nation to state, the role of slavery in Texas, the state's role in the Civil War and reconstruction, and how the state survived both World Wars and the Depression. Along the way, Powell addresses some uniquely Texan phenomena, such as the myth and realities of the Texas cowboy, how the discovery of oil and logging changed the land and its identity, and the rancorous and spirited world of Texas politics, which made its mark on US politics with the rise of Lyndon B. Johnson and the Bush family. It also introduces readers to the spicier side of the state, including its food, the movies it inspired, its music, and its writers.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1566565642
• ISBN13: 9781566565646
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Interlink Books
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Exelent concise history

A life long Texan, I have been reading Texas History for most of it(68yr). Mary Jo has written a good, tight and readable book. I will use it a regular guide in my more local travels. As for no Texas map, go to http://www.txdot.gov and order a free one. It is like a lot of Texas, THE BEST, and Free. Come on down. The gate is open. THRitter Austin TX (really Round Rock just N of)

Concise, informative, and fun

I was curious to know why Texans are obsessive about Texas and chose this book for its broad overview in the hope of finding an answer. The scope is ambitious enough to be informative without being mired in detail, and is amply illustrated. I especially like the sections at the back of the book: Chronology of Major Events, a calendar of special events, Texas in film, contact information, and more. The only thing lacking -and I really missed it! - is a good map of Texas!