'The Gates of the Alamo,' by Stephen Harrigan

Subject: 'The Gates of the Alamo,' by Stephen Harrigan Mon 26 Nov 2007, 8:17 pm

Has anyone read this novel of the Alamo (published in 2000)? I had been looking for it for several months and finally found a copy this past weekend. Most readers appear to think quite highly of it.

Stephen Harrington lives in Austin and has written for Texas Monthly for many years. I believe that I have flipped through his collections of essays, A Natural State and Comanche Midnight, but have not read either.

In his post-note, the author mentions that this novel draws upon the work of Thomas Ricks Lindley and William C. Davis. He also states there:

When I began The Gates of the Alamo, I made a pledge of absolute fidelity to the truth of the events.
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The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves

Is it violent?

Madelyn, it probably will be ... and no doubt, sad. I have not read many novels containing graphic violence or warfare in my time, but have learned from those which did harbor such scenes that it is best to skip over them as they appear on the horizon; otherwise, the horrific visions born of them will be in my imagination for keeps.
_________________
The woman of the frontier made the best of her situation, for she had developed a respect for the land that gave her freedom as well as the courage to live in it.
~~~ from the perspective of Anne Seagraves