Award-winning author Thomas Clagett tells me his
favourite of his own novels is LINE OF
GLORY.
Here’s my 4 star review of LINE OF GLORY, which I put on Amazon.co.uk and Goodreads:
Author’s audacious approach gives us a fresh take on
the Alamo
Almost as soon as the smoke cleared from the Alamo battlefield
another fog shrouded the scene – that of legend.
The ruins of The Alamo in 1844
In the nearly two centuries since historians have argued
over almost every single aspect of what may have occurred there in early 1836,
when fabled heroes – Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and William Travis – and a
handful of Texans gathered to stand against Santa Anna’s mighty Mexican army
and a 13-day siege ensued.
President-General ANTONIO LOPEZ de SANTA ANNA
Numerous novels, TV shows and movies on these
extraordinary events have, for the most part, only fuelled the confusion and
controversy. So I was sceptical that any further re-telling could add anything
new.
DAVID (DAVY) CROCKETT in 1834
Happily I was wrong. Thomas Clagett’s audacious
approach brings a fresh twist to the tale.
For a start he doesn’t attempt to tell the story of
the Texas War of Independence, or even the whole siege. Instead he concentrates
on the last 13 hours – the evening of March 5 and the morning of March 6 1836.
JAMES BOWIE
We get an intense focus on the ‘lull before the storm’
and then on the storm itself, as the Mexican army launches its final bloody assault
on the Alamo. And bravely he chooses to tell the story through the eyes of
less-famous participants: Susannah Dickinson, wife of an Alamo defender, three
brothers among the garrison and a Mexican officer leading his troops against
them. The ‘big three’ – Crockett, Bowie and Travis – become supporting players.
In this way, Clagett humanises the story, without in any way trivialising or diminishing
it, or belittling the participants (on both sides.)
WILLIAM TRAVIS in 1835
This is still an epic of courage and sacrifice, of
heroism without false heroics. Clagett expertly captures the tension of men waiting
to face death, and then the high drama of them giving and receiving it in the
battle that consumes them. Highly recommended.
SUSANNAH DICKINSON
Other reviews of LINE
OF GLORY:
‘Gripping… Rousing and memorable.’
‘Excellent. Superb. Spellbinding.’
‘Vivid and authentic.’
Robert Onderdonk’s ‘Fall of the Alamo’ 1903
Find my reviews here: (Amazon.co.uk)
(Goodreads)
You can also find LINE OF GLORY
here:
great review
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed the review, Sue. Thanks for stopping by.
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