Texian Iliad: A Military History of the Texas Revolution, 1835-1836

by Stephen L. Hardin

Book Overview

Winner, T. R. Fehrenbach Book Award, Texas Historical Commission
Summerfield G. Roberts Award, Sons of the Republic of Texas
Honorable Mention, Certificate of Commendation, American Association for State and Local History

Hardly were the last shots fired at the Alamo before the Texas Revolution entered the realm of myth and controversy. French visitor Frederic Gaillardet called it a "Texian Iliad" in 1839, while American...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0292731027
• ISBN13: 9780292731028
• Release Date: March 1996
• Publisher: University of Texas Press
• Length: 344 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

The Best There is on the Texas Revolution

Reading this book, seeing his numerous appearances in historical documentaries and hearing him lecture, has set Stephen Hardin apart as the consummate authority on Texas history. In his book, TEXIAN ILIAD: A MILITARY HISTORY OF THE TEXAS REVOLUTION, Hardin goes far beyond the usual narratives on Texas history, which often tend to narrow their scope to selected events such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, or possibly Goliad. Here, you will find a detailed account of the events, which led up to the revolution as Hardin begins his narrative with the 1824 overthrow of the constitutional government by Santa Anna and ends with his capture at San Jacinto. Of particular note is how dysfunctional the Texian militia was. Hardin concisely depicts the seemingly endless power struggle and how many of the volunteers followed their own leader and ignored "high command", such as it was. Most people are fairly familiar of the power struggle between Travis and Bowie, but those two merely scratched the surface of squabbles among the Texian forces. Hardin also does a much better job than most historians at portraying the valuable contributions of the tejanos, led by Juan Seguin. The book is also laden with wonderful illustrations, maps, photographs and portraits. It concludes with forty pages of author's notes and perhaps the most comprehensive bibliography available on Texas' struggle for independence. If your goal is the best accounting of the Alamo, there may well be superior sources, but for an overall narrative of the entire history of the Texas Revolution, this book is at the top of the list. Monty Rainey www.juntosociety.com

An objective account of the Texas revolution

If all you know of the Alamo is via Walt Disney and John Wayne, you will probably find this book a shocker. Both the Mexicans and the Texians were courageous and cowardly, brilliant and stupid by turns. This book is real history. But in the final analysis, real people are better heros than Hollywood images.I can't claim to have read every book written on the Alamo battle, but I have read a few. This book is the best I know of.

A Masterpiece: Beautifully written, easy to understand

Finally, an easy-to-read book that reads like a story, not a textbook. TEXIAN ILIAD is a wholly appropriate title. And Dr. Hardin is the right man to write the Iliad of Texas. It is a story worthy of the manner in which it is told. Hardin's captivating writing style is the key to this book's success. He clearly describes events in colorful detail that provide a masterful interpretation of this key era in Texas History. His approach to the Texas Revolution has just the right mix of political, social, and military perspectives to provide a refreshing well-balanced look at the birth of Texas. It is a joy to read.At last, the Battles of the Alamo and San Jacinto are put into their proper context with the Battles of Gonzales, Conception, San Antonio, Goliad, the Grass Fight, and the ill-fated Matamoros Expedition. Hardin expertly pieces these events and others together to form the patchwork quilt that is the Texas Revolution. The roles of unsung heroes like James Neill, Robert Williamson, and true military professionals like Mexican General Jose Urrea are finally brought to light. Hardin enables the readers to a new level of understanding about this difficult period.Hardin's chapter on the Alamo is the most honest and detailed to date and is worth the cost of the book alone. Gary Zaboly's illustrations and Hardins narrative paint a picture that allows us to understand the detailed flow of the final assault. Reading TEXIAN ILIAD is a MUST for all Texans and students of history. Not only is it extremely enjoyable reading, it is a well-balanced, accurately-told history. If I were a Texas history teacher, this would be my primary text. Even though it doesn't read like a textbook.

Much better than your usual tour of boring local history

As someone who not only reads for enjoyment but also for an "academic filling", I can definitely recommend this record of the Texas Revolution. Dr. Hardin takes some difficulty to relate both sides of the conflict, a departure from recent retelling of the Texas conflict. His narrative style makes it more than academic piece of drudgery. His view of this as "a personal war of settlers" with the veteran Mexican army "just doing their job" has come alive on these pages. Having lived down the road from the San Jacinto battlefield all my life, it has opened my eyes to terrible and barbaric blood-letting that passed there. I had always considered it a prime picnic site! It is easy and enlightening to perceive how the U.S. - Mexico relations are still affected from the outcome of this conflict today.The 2 quibbles I have with the author are: (1) I would have like to have seen more development of the Mexican side of the Revolution. (2) The author makes the claim that General Sam Houston shows two images in his command. But he never really completes the argumentative stand in his text for one or the other. But really these are very minor in comparison with a great re-telling of what for me is an old story come to life.