Texas "a whole other country"—a slogan that promotes tourism as
much within the Lone Star State as elsewhere—is familiar to native
Texans and those adopted sons and daughters who "got here just as
quickly as they could." Texas is as varied as East Texas timberland,
hundreds of miles of seashore, prairies of the Central and High
Plains, and the dry desert of far West Texas.
When traveling abroad and asked, "Where are you from?"
residents of forty-nine of the United States usually respond, "the
USA." Nearly every citizen of the Lone Star State will answer
"Texas!" The world encourages such chauvinism. Mass media
celebrates and exploits Texas and Texans in television and motion
pictures about the Alamo, Texas Rangers, the oil industry, and
athletics, to name only a few genre.
Texans' pride in their distinctiveness increases when their state
is paraded—or satired—and they consciously "pass it on" to
succeeding generations. But what does it mean to be a Texan?
How did Texas come to be as it is?
Texas: A Compact History provides answers to such questions
about Texans and Texas. It tells the story of Texas history and
provides thoughtful interpretations about the state's development,
all with the general reader in mind—in a brief, easily read narrative.
_________________________________________________________
ARCHIE P. McDONALD is the author of numerous books dealing
with various aspects of Texas history, including Back Then:
Simple Pleasures and Everyday Heroes (State House Press,
2005).
What people are saying about this book
"While most Texans think bigger is better, in the case of McDonald's
book, that isn't necessarily the case. If what you want is a quick
rundown about a subject . . . you'll find the basic facts here . . .
McDonald's book offers a quick look at Texas, with concise entries
and easy-to-find headings, as well as a top-notch index."—BookBeat
". . . an easy-to-follow guide, especially ideal for browsing prior to
traveling to Texas for business or pleasure . . . Enthusiastically
recommended for anyone who wants to quickly familiarize
themselves with Texas history."—Midwest Book Review
"Texas: A Compact History is a fabulous book for anyone studying
the United States and Texas. . . . McDonald's book gives enough
details without getting bogged down in minutia."—Eclectic
Homeschool Online, full review at http://eclectichomeschool.org/
reviews/individual_review2.asp?revid=2502
"This slender volume manages to compress more than three
centuries of Texas history into a highly readable account. It should
prove invaluable both to the newly transplanted Texan curious about
the state's colorful history, and to longtime students of Texas history
who want a quick guidebook when a fact escapes them . . .
[McDonald's] writing style is eminently readable and non-pedantic,
and he has the ability to swiftly summarize key events in the state's
history . . . McDonald's 'Compact History' ought to be required reading
for anyone who questions why this state and its people truly are
unique."—Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel
Other books by Archie McDonald
Other Brief Histories
