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A Line in the Sand

The Alamo in Blood and Memory

About The Book

In late February and early March of 1836, a Mexican army led by General Antonio López de Santa Anna lay siege to a mission known as the Alamo, held by a small band of rebels that included Davy Crockett, James Bowie, and William Travis. In the dark early morning of March 6, all inside the fort were dead -- and one of America's most enduring legends was born.
Randy Roberts and James S. Olson retell the story of the Alamo from both the Mexican and the American perspectives, delving into the historical accuracy of such myths as Bowie's famous line in the sand, Crockett's celebrated fight to the death, and the common portrayal of the Mexicans as ruthless killers. Separating fact from fiction, they trace how and why those fictions grew, from the rapid spread of the rallying cry "Remember the Alamo!" to the "patriotic" depictions of battle in American films and television to the potency of the Alamo as a symbol in Texas politics and American culture today.

About The Authors

Randy Roberts is distinguished professor of history at Purdue University and an award-winning author.

James S. Olson is an academic and the Pulitzer Prize–nominated author of over thirty books. 

Product Details

  • Publisher: Free Press (May 9, 2002)
  • Length: 368 pages
  • ISBN13: 9780743212335

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Raves and Reviews

Dan Rather The Wall Street Journal Rich in historical and biographical detail...one of the strongest accounts I've read of the drive for Texas independence.

David Uhler San Antonio Express-News A rare overview of historic Alamo controversies and a thorough examination of the reasons why the Shrine of Texas Liberty has been elevated to the status of worldwide icon.

The New Yorker Enjoyable, innovative....Roberts and Olson do a commendable job of re-creating the murky circumstances of the battle.

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