Sons of Texas

The state of Texas owes Elmer Kelton a big debt of thanks for all of the novels, stories, and tales he set in that geographic location. With this book, Kelton again demonstrates himself to be the chronicler of western history. No one does it better, sticking to the facts and removing the "myth" that is the west. This book is the 1st of a 3 book set he wrote, Sons of Texas; The Raiders; and The Rebels. Get all three and enjoy a family history lesson in what it was like to uproot your family and move to a "new" and "foreign" country, and the struggles to survive that transition and make a home. Buy this book. Personal note: Elmer Kelton was the only living western author I was buying when this book was published, and was until his death. I know of no one to take his place. P.S. This book was also published using the Tom Early name.

The first of a trilogy, Sons of Texas looks at Texas' gaining of independence from Spanish rule by following the lives of central characters, Michael Lewis and his younger brother, Andrew. Mordecai Lewis, Michael's father, headed the western Tennessee family when the story began in 1816 - a time when a hunter had shot pouch and powder horn. Mordecai was often away and he led a group of local landowners to Texas to bring back a herd of wild horses. Sixteen-year-old Michael tagged along as did Cyrus Blackwood whose family had a reputation for thievery and causing other trouble to their neighbours. Protecting the interests of the Spanish crown at that time was the brutal Lieutenant Armando Rodriguez. Rodriguez captured and killed Mordecai and Michael was left to die by Blackwood that was a beginning of a feud between the families when Michael survived and returned to Tennessee some time later. Michael still found Texas an irresistible draw and together with Andrew left to protect his family from the hostility that the Blackwoods were directing towards him, to find romance and to eventually confront Rodriguez. The feud with the Blackwoods is to be developed further in The Raiders and The Rebels and I'm hoping that the rest of the Lewis family will be featured more. Especially Michael's mother Patience who married Mordecai's brother Benjamin, and the effervescent Annie, Michael's younger sister, who adored Michael for being so like their father. Elmer Kelton has an understanding of the outdoor life and the ability to pass that onto the reader in a clear, entertaining manner that remained at a very high standard throughout.

I have read at least fourty books by Elmer Kelton. I liked them all and this is one of the best. Kelton places his characters in a historical setting that is both factual and entertaining. I have read the first two books of this series and logged on today hopeing to find the third.

Kelton is not an award winning author without good reason. Any of his books are good reads with well drawn characters and good story line...the history of Texas is so interwoven in each book. One of my favorite authors.