After the Alamo [Paperback]

Robert Scott (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1999

After the Alamo goes beyond popular myth and folklore to explore the events and portray the heroes (and the cowards) of the Texas War for Independence. While Texans were generally unhappy with their Mexican government in 1835, most of them did not want a revolutionary war against Santa Anna. Although there had been scattered violence in the territory, it was only after a band of mostly outsiders was slaughtered in their famous defense of the Alamo that Texans even attempted to organize formal opposition. Then they wound up with two governors and four military commanders, all at odds with one another.

It would take several additional tragedies--at San Patricio, Refugio, and Goliad--to finally weld the Texans into a single- minded people willing to give everything for their independence. At the center of this epic struggle was James Walker Fannin-- vain, indecisive, possibly cowardly, and simultaneously heroic. Was he a hero or a villain? This book probes this seldom- discussed Texas story in heart-wrenching detail and then leaves the decision to you

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Bob Scott lives in north central Michigan with his son and a cat. He is a past resident of several Texas cities, and it was while he lived here that he developed his passion for Texas history. This is his fourth book.

Product Details

• Paperback: 310 pages
• Publisher: Republic of Texas Pr (July 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556226918
• ISBN-13: 978-1556226915
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,816,889 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well-documented take on the hows & whys of the TX Revolution, November 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: After the Alamo (Paperback)

Scott did substantial research in preparation of his work. He tries to look into the minds of the key players of the revolution without taking liberties. The book focuses on the arguable deficiencies of 'general' Fannin that led to the massacre at Fort Defiance, along with the sometimes misunderstood actions of Sam Houston.

Many of the accounts of the Revolution are conflicting, especially regarding the intentions of Houston and Fannin, and I did get the impression that Scott had already picked his favorites when he began writing. Having said that, he presented both sides of the conflicting accounts and the reasons he gave more weight to the accounts he trusts.

Although already an avid Texan, I am chomping at the bit to read more about the events before, during, and after the revolution after reading AFTER THE ALAMO. If you think you know what happened in the 1830's, but are relying on what you learned in school (assuming you took Texas History) you really need to read this book to find out who the real heroes were.

Very readable, very entertaining, and very enlightening.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Texas history revisited, February 4, 2001

By 

R. Williams (Kingsville, Texas USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: After the Alamo (Paperback)

When a history book starts off with a couple of glaring flaws, you have to work at it to regain your enthusiasm. Comanches, not Cherokees, were the scourge of the Texas frontier. They were so bad, they even ran the Apaches to far west Texas. Then, Anahuac is not on Copano Bay, it's over a hundred miles east on the east side of Galveston Bay.

The basic premise of this book is that "real Texans" were not at the Alamo or Goliad. That the real Texans had gone home to get the fields ready for planting after Gen Cos surrendered San Antonio in December, 1835. That it was the "johnny-come-latelys" with no stake in Texas, who continued the revolt against Mexico. One hispanic historian made the comment, "The only real Texans at the Alamo were the eleven Tejanos."

More "in depth" histories have shown that there were revolts in several Mexican states against Gen. Santa Anna. Tejanos and Texians both had grievances against the central government for many years. So, while the "johnny-come-latelys" fought at the Alamo and Goliad, "real Texans", both brown and white, were willing to take up arms against a dictator. The tragedy is that the newcomers discriminated against the Tejanos once the war was won. Midwesterners, who came to Texas after 1900, would repeat this discrimination.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars EXCELLENT STUDY OF SELDOM DISCUSSED HISTORY, November 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: After the Alamo (Paperback)

Many other works have gone into great detail about the major events of the Texas revolution: the Alamo, The Runaway Scrape and San Jacinto. Mr. Scott has taken a great step forward and covered in deep and fascinating detail the 'other' stories of the war, usually mentioned only in passing: Refugio, San Patricio, and the most tragic figure in the saga, Colonel Fannin. I have many other works about this period in my library, and I must say this is certainly one of my favorites. Definitely a must have for anyone wanting to learn more about the aftermath of the Alamo.