Customer Reviews

Thirteen Days to Glory: The Siege of the Alamo

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I am 11 yrs. old and a big history buff. "13 Days to Glory" gives you very good information and insight on the Alamo. I have read other books on the Alamo and they were not solely based on fact, but rather written for entertainment purposes.

Dr. Tinkle's account of the Battle of the Alamo has, in some ways, been a life-forming book. It was in these pages (as a child in the early 1960s) that the heroic/epic myth of the Alamo became realized to me. What culture (native Celt-German-Texan) had begun in me, and what Disney and the Duke has fueled, became a way of life after reading Tinkle's account of the events now carved in stone in our national conscious. Col. Wm. Barrett Travis' mythical drawing of the line in the courtyard (whether true or not, true myth becomes myth made true) became a model for life. The pattern has been repeated dozen's of times: find a worthy cause, draw a line, get massacred. I owe it all to this book. Get a copy if you can.

While the recent Texian Illiad by Stephen Hardin, and Stephen Harrigan's The Gates of the Alamo are both good reads (Gates of the Alamo sits on my nightstand, waiting its turn) that do much to shed both historical light on the battle, and dispel popular revisionist histories (the probably forged De la Pena's Diaries being the worst), Thirteen Days to Glory remains my sentimental favorite, the stuff that myths are made of, and fed by.

While profound, Travis's words: "Don't surrender, boys" (spoken in Spanish) - tell only part of this story of the Siege of the Alamo. But because of the circumstances surrounding the battle (no Texan Survivors) there is no way to ever truly know all of the events surrounding those final days. Yes this is not the only book on the subject that one should read if you want a well-rounded impartial view of these events. Regardless it makes for good reading and I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the Texas revolt and it's ramifications. Many still affecting us to this day.

Dr. Tinkle's account of the Battle of the Alamo has, in some ways, been a life-forming book. It was in these pages (as a child in the early 1960s) that the heroic/epic myth of the Alamo became realized to me. What culture (native Celt-German-Texan) had begun in me, and what Disney and the Duke has fueled, became a way of life after reading Tinkle's account of the events now carved in stone in our national conscious. Col. Wm. Barrett Travis' mythical drawing of the line in the courtyard (whether true or not, true myth becomes myth made true) became a model for life. The pattern has been repeated dozen's of times: find a worthy cause, draw a line, get massacred.

I owe it all to this book. Get a copy if you can.

While the recent Texas Illiad, and Stephen Harrigan's The Gates of the Alamo are both good reads (Gates of the Alamo sits on my nightstand, waiting its turn) that do much to shed both historical light on the battle, and dispel popular revisionist histories (the probably forged De la Pena's Diaries being the worst), Thirteen Days to Glory remains my sentimental favorite, the stuff that myths are made of, and fed by.

While profound, Travis's words: "Don't surrender, boys" (spoken in Spanish) - tell only part of this story of the Siege of the Alamo. But because of the circumstances surrounding the battle (no Texan Survivors) there is no way to ever truly know all of the events surrounding those final days. Yes this is not the only book on the subject that one should read if you want a well-rounded impartial view of these events. Regardless it makes for good reading and I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in the Texas revolt and it's ramifications. Many still affecting us to this day.

Lon Tinkle, the author of THIRTEEN DAYS TO GLORY, must have done the most arduous research for this graphic and vivid description of the siege of the Alamo. This is perhaps the all-time most authoritative print description of the day by day, moment by moment events of the historic struggle for (Texas) independence. This volume represents a masterful effort of research and re-telling.

What I do NOT understand is why this book is not available in the gift and curio shop in the Alamo. This shop sells dozens of books of all kinds about the ALAMO, but the most definitive and well-written THIRTEEN DAYS TO GLORY is sadly missing on the shelves.

Equally sad is the fact that this classic is currently out of print. I had difficulty chasing down a used paper-back copy of it.

John Zanders
Houston, TX.

My grandmother picked up a copy of this book for me sometime ago during a visit to Texas and I've have recently (and finally) gotten to read it. Not knowing much about the Alamo I was intrigued to finally be able to read an account of the famous 1836 battle. While I am not an expert on the events depicted in the book I will say this: 13 Days To Glory is a highly readable piece of historical writing.

The book's author, the late Lon Tinkle, gives the book a feeling that is both epic and yet personal. In a style reminiscent (or rather pre) of the works of David McCullough, Tinkle gives us a fine and (considering the book's length of 237 pages of actual text) detailed account of the siege of the Alamo and the battle that followed it. Tinkle weaves a narrative that ranges from the Alamo mission to around Texas and in Mexico as well. Like any fine piece of historical writing, even if one knows the eventual outcome the book should still be able to grip the reader and Tinkle does this almost effortlessly as he makes every messenger sent out, every minor skirmish and eery incident cause the reader to fip the page aiting to see what will happen next. Eventually the page turning leads to the battle itself. Tinkle's approximately thirty-five page account of the battle itself ranks as a masterful and fascinating piece not only of historical writing but as a fine piece of storytelling as well.

Yet while painting an epic tale of the siege and battle of the Alamo, Tinkle (like the later day works of David McCullough) keeps the story on the personal level as well. Much of the book's description of the siege is intertwined with the lives of those participating in the battle. These include Alamo defenders like William Travis, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, Mexican General Santa Anna and bystanders like Susanna Dickerson amongst many others. Being from Alabama I was most interested to read of Travis' connection to my home state . While these sections all make for interesting reading they also, paradoxically serves as a drawback as they slow the book's pace down at times and serving as a distraction at others. For the most part, though, they are fascinating to read and help to supplement the unfolding drama of Alamo story.

13 Days To Glory represent a fine piece of historical writing. While it might be hurt by some overemphasis at the backgrounds of the defenders at times, the late Lon Tinkle has crafted a tense and readable account of the Alamo siege and battle. The book is far from just another dull piece of facts and figures: it is a book that tells the epic and personal story of one of the most famous battles of American (and Texas) history. If you enjoy the books of David McCullough and are looking for a good book on the Alamo look no further.

From the moment I started reading this book, I was hooked. I could not believe that a subject I studied in passing in history class was actually an epic of courage and bravery. The characters come alive with all their faults and virutures.

I purchased this book after reading another of Lon Tinkle's works and finding his writing extremely interesting and engaging. This is an extremely well-written account of the two week siege at the Alamo early in the Texas War for Independence. Most of us who grew up in Texas have studied the history of our state both in public school and in college courses. We have a pretty good understanding of the sequence of events of the battle for independence. Those of us who are older, however, have learned quite a bit of "legend," and those who are younger have in many cases received a somewhat sanitized version of the events.

This book, even though written a number of years ago, is generally recognized as the most accurate and authoritative account of what actually happened during the seige that eventually resulted in the fall of the mission held by a small band of revolutionary soldiers. It relates the account of the internal conflicts between the leader of the regular army and the militia, the call for help that never came, and the desperate but skillful effort to hold out as long as possible.

Most of us are familiar with the John Wayne movie, "The Alamo." Lon Tinkle and other well-known Texas historians and writers were initially associated with the production of the movie as consultants, but when the script began deviating from the known facts, Mr. Tinkle removed himself and required that his name be removed from the movie credits. The only remnant of his involvement was the retention of the subtitle of the movie, "Thirteen Days to Glory."

The seller provided excellent service on my order. The book arrived quickly and in mint condition. I would definitely purchase from this seller again.

Many, like me, prior to reading this book probably only had a popular understanding of the siege at the Alamo; much of it brought on by Hollywood and its screen variations or briefly from a cursory mention in junior high or high school history classes. So, I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with Lon Tinkle's book.
Within th 13 days he lays out the political and historical build up to the siege as well as an indepth look at the major players we've come to know; Austin, Bowie, Crockett, Travis, Santa Anna, Fannin, Houston and Seguin. More than that, he offers a look at the lesser known others too, both Mexican and Anglo and true Texans, who were out to create the Republic of Texas and who fought bravely and lost so much in that pursuit.
This is a wonderful book and had me rethinking everything I thought I knew and appreciating the proud spirit of Texas.