Texas History in the 21st Century

I found it on my doorstep (thank you Amazon), “Big Wonderful Thing. A History of Texas.” By Stephen Harrigan. Nine-hundred twenty-five pages. Copyright 2019. Lots of illustrations.

Stephen Harrigan I know from his novel, “The Gates of the Alamo,” published about 25 years ago. That novel is a delight, the best Alamo story you’ll find. Historically accurate, too, South Texas as it was in the 1830’s. It opens in San Antonio with the War of the Flowers parade, which my father had witnessed as a child. Dad was enchanted!

So how is Harrigan as a historian? He took the title from a Georgia O’Keefe quote: “I couldn’t believe Texas was real ... the same big wonderful thing that oceans and the highest mountains are.” Will Harrigan bring us a new perspective? The imagination of the novelist? This is not a book you will hold in your lap, not at 975 large pages. I’m not ready to report to you, not yet.

I will reveal that his opening thrust took me to the Alibates Flint Quarries in the Texas Panhandle. That did surprise me. I’d been there to see where Clovis Points got their start. A hot, hot summer day didn’t show me much except little holes in the ground. I took refuge in the little air-conditioned trailer that passed as a visitor center. The Park Ranger I recognized. I’d seen him the year before at Everglades National Park. “Wesley,” I asked him, “What did you do to get yourself transferred out here?”
Wesley wasn’t smiling. “I wish I knew.”

The twentieth-century Texas historian was T. R. Fehrenbach, whose little history was published in 1968. He was born in San Benito and raised in San Antonio, a true South Texas boy. When he revised his history book in 1999 it had morphed into a 765-page monster. I’m ashamed to say I just thought “Right!” and shelved the book. Now I’ve dug it out again to compare it with Harrigan’s big book.

I am going to have fun comparing those two opuses. Stay tuned for more about the Alibates Flint Quarries.

By the way, they told me in the Panhandle that the quarry is on a ranch once owned by one Allie Bates. Alibates? I’d like to confirm that….

Dac Crossley
January 6, 2020. Happy birthday, Larry C.!

“As gravity bends light, so power bends time.” – Historian Christopher Clark.

Comments

[Augie Hicks]

Dac, I really do not appreciate autocorrect. Sorry about your name

[Augie Hicks]

Dec, if anyone can bridge the two is you. I enjoy hearing your excitement in reading your articles.

[Janice Pulliam]

Dac, this new book sounds so interesting, but at 925 pages I will not order it. Maybe I can glance through the pictures on a visit to your house sometime.

[Alan]

thanks for this written version of what you were sharing at The Globe yesterday.

Due to the contrasting complex mixture of sounds in the The Globe I often do not hear complete phrases, let alone complete sentences and stories.

see y;all next Sunday

[Chris]

Seems as though you are on a hunt, the best kind, comparing two very large books. Nothing more exciting than finding a book that you know will bring some learning, some answering of long held questions 'alibates?,' or just new stuff.
Have fun. It was good to see you at Publix, even if you did think I was God.