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5.0 out of 5 stars
Finally, an honest look at Texas' sacred cow, April 19 2004
I find Jeff Long's retelling of the Alamo fable refreshingly (if brutally) honest and well documented. He debunks alot of of the myths that surround the Battle of the Alamo. He is particarly good at providing an extensive background to the conflict. Growing up in Texas, and studying the state's History in the 4th and 7th grade, it was never too clear what the reasons behind the war were. All I was told is that a group of brave men stood fast against unsurmountable tyranny and sacrified their lives for the ultimate price of freedom. But to say that the Texas revolution was a war for independence is oversimplifying the issue... it is like saying the Civil War was just a war to end slavery. Now, some folks are fine with these simple definitions... and if you are the type of person that likes their history in neat little anecdotes and who wants their heroes to wear white and their villains to wear black, then this might not be the book for you. Reading through it the first time, I was sure that just as it opened my eyes it was going to get others very angry. Over the years, discussing this books with others that have read it has revealed this to be true.
There are many out there that feel this is book is biased and inflammatory. This could be true if Mr. Long was simply stating an opinion. But, the book is extremely well researched, and all his sources are listed for the world to see. If you don't think he is being fair in his assessment of the conflict, then look up the sources... he is not hiding anything. If it is biased, it certainly is not more so than the history books we were given to read at school. In fact, those books carried more of an agenda, and Mr. Longs account is far more accurate and even-handed.
Some legends are hard to die, and I am sure that regardless of how many books like this one are written some people will continue believing that Crockett died in a blaze of glory with his coonskin hat still on his head, and that Travis and Bowie were freedom loving martyrs that had no human fault. I applaud Mr. Longs for providing a well-researched alternative to this view, and for giving us an extensive background on the events and ideologies that lead to the conflict and the consequences that followed. If you are a real history buff that is interested in facts and who likes to get the larger picture, this book is definitely recommended. If not... then I suggest just sticking to John Wayne's 1960 melodrama for familiarity. It's available on DVD on this website as well, I'm sure.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Beautifully written, marvelous scholarship, April 19 2004
This book is an accomplishment on many fronts. It digs where no one else wants to dig, which is the true hallmark of a historian. It reveals truths that entrenched and calcified communities wish to hide -- a sign of high scholarship and meaningful journalism. Best of all, it is wonderfully written. Jeff Long spends as much time providing ambience and atmosphere than the usual historian. You are transported there. This book is much more interesting that the childish fairytales surrounding the Alamo and Texas "independence." Thanks for expecting that your readers are adults. You won't find any pandering in this book.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
BIASED BUT BRILLIANT, Mar 25 2004
To be precise, DUEL OF EAGLES is the story of the Texas War of Independence not just the fight for the Alamo. While Jeff Long styles his book as the "Mexican and US fight", the US government stayed at arms length the whole time. Texas independence from Mexico was won by immigrants into Texas and Texas colonists and not US troops. Jeff Long examines the motives of major players on both sides of this conflict from Santa Anna to Sam Houston as well as the economic and historical background of the time. He portrays the Texas side as greedy speculators and land-grabbers, con artists and frauds. The Mexican side gets off better in his view, being more civilized and the largely innocent victims of the struggle. This reader could not help but see a bias against the Anglo-Saxon side on the part of Mr. Long. While I don't doubt his conclusions are true that many Texians, among them Texas historic icons, were crooks, cheats, murderers and losers, his occasionally non-nuetral language betrays his agenda. The last chapter is almost fully devoted to the depradations of the victorious Texians against Mexicans living in Texas and the beginnings of a violent racism against the Mexican race by the Anglos. This all may unfortunately be true but seems beyond the bounds of a military history and occurs after the war ended. But this gratuitous rambling helps to cement Mr. Long's indictment of the Anglos. This is my only complaint. Otherwise, DUEL OF EAGLES is chock full of information with lots of backend notes and brilliantly tells the story of a fascinating chapter of US history.
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