Texas: The Lone Star State - Softcover

Richardson, Rupert N.; Wintz, Cary D.; Anderson, Adrian; Wallace, Ernest

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0205661688 ISBN 13: 9780205661688

Publisher: Routledge, 2009

Synopsis

Written in a narrative style, this comprehensive yet accessible survey of Texas history offers a balanced, scholarly presentation of all time periods and topics.From the beginning sections on geography and prehistoric people, to the concluding discussions on the start of the twenty-first century, this text successfully considers each era equally in terms of space and emphasis.

About this title

From the Publisher

Written in narrative style, this comprehensive, general survey of Texas history -- from early times to the present -- offers a balanced, scholarly presentation of all eras and topics.

From the Inside Flap

Preface

Some sixty years ago, as the world was moving from depression to war, Professor Richardson completed the first edition of Texas: The Lone Star State, written as a comprehensive, general history of Texas and intended primarily for use in college history courses. Many years later, near the end of the 1960s, Professor Richardson, recognizing the evolutionary character of historical studies and the need to provide new insight and ideas, added two authors, Ernest Wallace and Adrian Anderson, in the preparation of the third and subsequent editions. As we move into the new millennium, a new author, Cary D. Wintz, has joined in the preparation of this, the eighth edition of Texas: The Lone Star State. Professor Wintz, whose suggestions influenced the preparation of the seventh edition, brings to the book his broad and comprehensive knowledge of Texas history and his long experience in the study of specialized areas, some of which were scarcely recognized at the time of the original edition.

When Professor Richardson prepared the final draft of his manuscript for the first edition of Texas: The Lone Star State, he wrote in his preface that his mission was to "provide, as far as the limitations of a single volume will permit, a complete survey of the history of Texas." His goal was to present not only the topics affording "adventure, contest, and color" but also "the more prosaic but equally important subjects." In search of balance, he sought to tell the story of "cotton pickers" and "priests and conquerors," of "filibusterers" and "farmers"—a complete story, to the extent possible.

In keeping with his purpose, Professor Richardson wrote history in narrative or "storytelling" form. Where circumstances demanded and space permitted, he analyzed and interpreted events and issues, but the essence of his work was the evolution of his story and his effort to present it in an account that was complete and fair as possible. The events of the years since the first publication of Texas: The Long Star State have been included in successive editions. And, the discovery of new information has sometimes led to reexamination of past events. More often, however, it is an increased awareness of the contributions and role of minorities, women, and other groups that were ignored or inadequately recognized in the past that has led to a new and, it is hoped, a more complete and meaningful story.

In reexamining the past, many of the old traditions or "myths" have been carefully scrutinized and found lacking in terms of meaning and sensitivity; others have been altered or modified. Such changes are appropriate and necessary to the preservation of a free people. But though old myths must be constantly reviewed and examined so that they will not distort our history, care must also be taken to make sure that new myths, which inevitably arise, do not likewise mislead us in our understanding of our heritage.

New materials have been added to bring the text up to date in this edition, and where new scholarship is available, some of the earlier chapters have been revised. In a few instances, the organization has been changed for the sake of clarity, and unfortunately, some material of older editions has been deleted to save space. Considerable care has been taken to add a comprehensive listing to recently published books and articles in the bibliographies at the end of each chapter.

Nothwithstanding these changes and additions, the narrative character of earlier editions is continued in the current edition of Texas: The Lone Star State. It was prepared with the hope that it is in keeping with Professor Richardson's purpose of providing a complete story and that the integrity of his scholarship will be maintained.

We are indebted to many people in the preparation of this eight edition. We thank the reviewers: James A. Wilson, Southwest Texas State University and Jerry Thompson, Texas A&M International. Most of all, we are indebted to the late Professor Rupert Norval Richardson for the opportunity to continue with his work. His scholarship, honor, integrity, and basic goodness as a human being and a historian will always be an inspiration. We are further indebted to the late Professor Ernest Wallace, who also contributed significantly to the success of this book. In addition, both of use owe a debt to our many colleagues and friends whose counsel and knowledge have been invaluable in the preparation of this edition as well as earlier ones. Special recognition is owed to Professor Ralph Wooster, who provided wise advice, especially concerning maps and Civil War matters. Likewise, we are grateful to the teachers, students, and general readers, whose criticism and constructive suggestions have helped greatly in the work of revision. And we are especially grateful to our wives, Sally Anderson and Celia Wintz, whose patience endured much, and whose learned and perceptive criticism was invaluable on many occasions.

Adrian Anderson
Cary Wintz

Edition details

• Publisher: Routledge
• Publication date: 2009
• ISBN 10: 0205661688
• ISBN 13: 9780205661688
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Number of pages: 448