The Borderland: A Novel of Texas

by Edwin Shrake

Book Overview

In this epic novel, veteran writer Edwin Shrake explores the feuds and alliances among Americans, Mexicans, and Indians, the political treachery, and the tales of fortune-hungry settlers that combine to tell the story of how Texas was born. Set in the blossoming frontier town of Austin, The Borderland focuses on the lives of Romulus and Cullasaja Swift, the half-Cherokee offspring of two forward-thinking parents who have come to Texas from...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0786884932
• ISBN13: 9780786884933
• Release Date: April 2001
• Publisher: Hachette Books
• Length: 438 Pages
• Weight: 0.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 5.5" x 8.5"
• Age Range: 17 to 18 years
• Grade Range: Grade 12 to Postsecondary

Customer Reviews

A majestic and vital novel

Though I'm normally not much of a fan of "historical fiction," Bud Shrake's The Borderland has turned my head. This novel is so finely researched and movingly wrought that the time and place come alive in a vivid and intimate way. My understanding of this period of Texas history was pretty much relegated to the standard 7th grade propaganda, so I was amazed to discover how much was going on at the time. From the Indian camps to the new Anglo towns, the novel moves easily between social groups and cultures as they collided in creating what became Texas. Shrake is a first-class writer, and this novel works on so many levels, from the humorous to the metaphysical. It ranks right up there with Lonesome Dove as a Texas classic.

a must read

The Borderland is one of those rare novels which manages to draw you in so completely that you feel a hearty sense of loss after you turn the last page. It is rich and romantic, large and scathing, and funny and true. Though the book is a historic novel centered around the early days of Texas and the settlement of Austin, it's scope is much greater. It captures the spirit of men taking on the magnificent and the impossible and the persistence and heart which manage to propel them to success. The characters are unforgettable and the prose is vivid and engaging. If you want to read something which will make you laugh and cry and think, by all means, read The Borderland. And check out one of the author's earlier novels, Blessed McGill. Shrake's works rival Jim Harrison's and Larry McMurtry's.

A new classic

This is one great novel; the very best from the underappreciated author of two other classic works of fiction: "Blessed McGill" (the story of the first Saint of North America) and "Strange Peaches" (the first Kennedy conspiracy theory book). Shrake has reached his peak with the Borderland which gets at the real heart of the founding of the nation of Texas, the period after the Alamo and before admission to the Union during which Sam Houston moved the Capitol west to the middle of a Comanche paradise (oh, how we wish Austin was still a paradise), setting off a 40 year war with the Comanches and ethnic cleansing of the Cherokees. Imagine Austin with a Capitol Building surrounded by a stockade fence and a moat and protected by cannons against attack. It's bigger than life because these people were bigger than life. The climax of the book comes with the biggest Comanche raid in history which ended with the Texas Rangers triumph and slaughter of the Indians at Plum Creek south of Austin. I could give you a dozen other great scenes, but skip to the chase and simply read this book; it's a winner!

A Must Read for All Texans

There is an article on Bud Shrake by senior editor Gary Cartwright that appears in the April 2000 issue of TEXAS MONTHLY. See it on texasmonthly.com.Bud's new book, Borderland, is a truly great novel about Austin, carefully researched and set during the frontier era of the republic of Texas. If you love Austin, you need to read this book. You'll be surprised at what you'll learn about the town. And you'll probably wind up writing me a thank you note for this suggestion. (signed) Mike Levy, publisher, TEXAS MONTHLY

THE BORDERLAND

this superb book is so big that it entices one to match its size in praising it. There are dozens of literally, fabulous, characters. texas rangers, europeans, actresses, generals, and, of course, native americans. i can't imagine that these warriors, sages, half-breeds, captives, politicians and womenfolk have ever been better drawn.the scenes of their meetings read like shrake was taking minutes as do the pow wows of the white invaders. in short, it is the entire mix that created the republic of texas from president lamar down to the boatman who takes them across their stygian river. this book has a heart as big as the state of texas and as much wisdom as i have ever encoutered on the page. and the story is told with vigour and humour , laced with a fair amount of blood, sweat and lust.it could easily be called "jacobean." and probably will be. certainly its last line will be quoted for a long, long time.