The eagle and the raven

Format:

Book (large print)

Title:

The eagle and the raven

Author:

Michener, James A. (James Albert), 1907-1997.

ISBN:

9780938349570

9780812513011

Edition:

1st ed.

Publication Information:

Physical Description:

214 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 23 cm

Summary:

On book: "A fictional account of the lives of Sam Houston and Santa Anna, the book moves relentlessly to the adversaries' historic encounter at the battle of San Jacinto, which resulted, eventually, in the U.S. annexation of Texas."

Personal Subject:

Santa Anna, Antonio López de, 1794-1876-Fiction.

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863-Fiction.

Houston, Sam, 1793-1863. (OCoLC)fst00101815

Santa Anna, Antonio López de, 1794-1876 (OCoLC)fst00019533

Subject(s):

Presidents -- Mexico -- Fiction.

Governors -- Texas -- Fiction.

San Jacinto, Battle of, Tex., 1836 -- Fiction.

Mexico -- History -- 1821-1861 -- Fiction.

Texas -- History -- Fiction.

Geographic Term:

Mexico -- History -- 1821-1861 -- Fiction.

Texas -- History -- Fiction.

Genre:

Biographical fiction.

Historical fiction.

Holds:

Available:*

Library	Call Number	Status
Searching... Willamina Public Library	FIC MIC	Searching... Unknown
Searching... Salem Main Library	Michener, J.	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

This historical narrative recalls one of the most exciting periods of Texas history in its contrast of two charismatic men, Santa Anna and Houston.

Author Notes

James A. Michener, 1907 - 1997 James Albert Michener was born on February 3, 1907 in Doylestown, Pa. He earned an A.B. from Swarthmore College, an A.M. from Colorado State College of Education, and an M.A. from Harvard University. He taught for many years and was an editor for Macmillan Publishing Company. His first book, "Tales of the South Pacific," derived from Michener's service in the Pacific in World War II, won the 1947 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and was the basis for the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical South Pacific, which won the 1950 Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Michener completed close to 40 novels. Some other epic works include "Hawaii," "Centennial," "Space," and "Caribbean." He also wrote a significant amount of nonfiction including his autobiography "The World Is My Home."

Among his many other honors, James Michener received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1977. He was married to Patti Koon in 1935; they divorced in 1948. He married Vange Nord in 1948 (divorced 1955) and Mari Yoriko Sabusawa in 1955 (deceased 1994). He died in 1997 in Austin, Texas.

(Bowker Author Biography)

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

``The Raven'' is Sam Houston, insolent frontiersman, brash congressman, Tennessee governor, rural schoolmaster, lawyer, land speculator in the Mexican state of Tejas (later Texas). ``The Eagle'' is Antonio Lopez de Santa Annasp ok , 11 times president of Mexico, congenital opportunist, enemy of rebels, inordinately vain general, furious wooer of a Mexican emperor's 60-year-old spinster sister. The paths of these two adventurers crossed in 1836 on the banks of the San Jacinto River when Houston, leading a band of Texicans seeking revenge for the Alamo, massacred Santa Anna's men. The independent Republic of Texas was born (it joined the Union nine years later). Resembling nonfiction more than historical novelette, this interwoven double portrait, we learn from the author's introduction, was originally a chapter cut from his novel Texas . Michener makes history come alive in this engaging slice of Americana and Texas lore, a compelling testament to the precept that character is destiny. Line drawings. (Sept.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

Kirkus Review

First printing of a novella-sized outtake from Michener's behemoth Texas (1985): the story of the revolution of 1836, which severed Texas from Mexico, and of the duel between firebrand Sam Houston's insurgent Texicans and a punitive Mexican army led by glory-mongering scoundrel Santa Anna. In a lengthy introduction, Michener explains the publishing history of this novel and of the sunburst of writing that produced ten books from him between 1986 and 1990. As an adventurous adolescent, the 6'2"" Houston would escape from his family's Tennessee farm and go live with the Cherokee Indians, take on their ways and learn their language. Santa Anna meanwhile was born a Creole, soon became idled with dreams of military glory, joined the Mexican infantry, quickly rose to command in the cavalry and led his troops in rapacious attacks against Indians and revolutionaries who questioned the authority of the Spanish army. When rebels arose in the northern province of Tejas, Santa Anna crossed the Rio Grande to slay them. Earlier, Houston had become a teacher, a lawyer, fought beside General Andrew Jackson, represented the Cherokee in Washington for their treaty, and rose to major-general in the Tennessee Militia because of his commanding presence and oratorical gifts. With Mexico breaking away from Spain and crowning its own emperor, Santa Anna went through a sea-change, became an ardent republican and by 1836 had been four times President of Mexico. With Texas seceding, he marched 5,000 troops noah to confront Davy Crockett, Sam Bowie and their 184 Anglo invaders awaiting the Mexicans at the Alamo in San Antonio. After that slaughter, Houston's outnumbered men attacked Santa Anna at San Jacinto, slaying 600 Mexicans in 18 minutes. Exiled four times, Santa Anna went on to be Mexico's president 11 times, ceded incredible areas of Mexico to the States, and died a pauper but no hero. Rapid semifiction done in bold strokes, though not densely imagined. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.