Half way through. I love it, but was wondering how this book rates on a historical accuracy/credibility scale. I am sure some of you can help me out on that.

Thanks.

It is hard for me to believe that any latter day historian would have the audacity to dispute any part of Fehrenbach's Lone Star.

But some will challenge his credibility on various points because that is the nature of historical discourse ... in order to get published one has to make audacious claims of newly discovered "facts" and preferably those that impugn the integrity of iconic figures or events.

At some point, rather than deal with the revisionists which takes on the nature of swatting bees, the student of Texas history must revert to a fundamentalist stand ... Fehrenbach said it, I believe it, and that settles it."

You're right about the nature of historical revisionism. If we settled every major dispute, there would always be someone out there saying that the Karankawas were homosexuals or something.

weeellll. . . .

they did supposedly "eat" people.

Thanks. I will take the foregoing posts as an endorsement of the book's historical accuracy and reliability.

Best history book ever.

As far as I am concerned, it is the "Bible" of Texas History. Which means to me that everything he talked about happened, we just don't know if there was Devine Intervention.

I will go to my grave putting this book up against ANY I have ever seen for the facts of Texas history.

Per just the Alamo, I'm sticking with "Tall Men with Long Rifles" by Taylor.

weeellll. . . .

they did supposedly "eat" people.
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Ha! Reminds me of Jeff Long's revisionist "duel."

I know a lot of professional historians and have never heard any of them suggest the book is inaccurate; they all agree he is a superb writer.

It has been suggested that he is somewhat ethnocentric but I would even give him a pass there.

He does shortchange the economic side considerably in favor of what is often called the whig interpretation of history.

I think it is the best one volume history of Texas for the non professional.

As for the Karankawas, they were all over the place down here on the coast and I love one historical marker at a local nature preserve which says that the oft repeated stories about their cannibalism "may" be attributed to occasional ritual practices.

Or it may be because everybody who ever came into contact with them while unarmed got put on the roaster.

Thanks. I am heading to Galveston for Thanksgiving with the family. I will lift a glass in honor of the Karankawas and all those Texans who preceded us.

quote:

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we just don't know if there was Devine Intervention.

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Why would people from Devine, Tex. (just west of San Antonio) intervene for the Karankawas?

aalan...well, it's all part of the yearly Devine, Texas Cannibal Festival.

Unfortunately it is an event that for some reason seems to have fewer and fewer people attend each year.

Too bad, as the crowds always started the week long festival very large, but tend to dewindel as the week went on. But, there was always plenty to eat until the last day when for some reason there weren't enough people to mount a decent Texas Cannibal Festival Parade.

Devine Cannibal Fest is a success because the bricks at the D'Hanis Festival are hard on the gums.