The Breach

Brian Kaufman's The Breach is a magnificent work of fiction that can easily be mistaken for the authentic diary of Mexican General Manual Fernandez Castrillon. Apart from its gripping, altogether believable day-to-day account of Santa Anna's campaign against the Texans in 1836, The Breach is especially notable for its portrayal of Castrillon as a man of great courage, dignity and intelligence whose loyalties are divided between His Excellency General Santa Anna and the thousands of Mexican soldiers and their families who are doomed to terrible suffering and death by Santa Anna's capricious, arrogant incompetence. The narrative unfolds like Greek tragedy, in which the heartbreaking outcome is determined by the flawed characters of powerful, intractable men who would be great but in the end are not. This gem of a novel deserves to be read and reread. It certainly belongs in every public library in America.

The Journal entries of General Manuel Fernandez Castrillon begin in January, 1836, as the Mexican Expeditionary Force heads out of Saltillo toward Texas and the Alamo. The General is aide-de-camp to Mexican President Santa Anna. Castrillon understandably expects the men, animals, and women who accompany the soldiers to be treated in a manner worthy of his civilized country. The real story begins to unfold as he learns that Santa Anna has not an iota of feeling. His decisions along the way are so bad that precious provisions are lost, the men are half-starved and not paid as promised, and the animals are so thirsty their tongues actually split. His treatment of women I leave the reader to discover. Castrillon realizes that his leader is not only inept, but a vile, debased person who does not embody one facet of Mexico's civilized culture. But the General's outward persona as a soldier never wavers from his deep commitment to duty. Aside from the rich narration of battles, readers are privileged to share the inner thoughts of a man who thinks he could have been a poet, a homesteader, and father. In the end, he pays the price, as do all of us, for his early life choices and decisions.

''When the names of Travis, Bowie, Bonham, and Crockett are remembered, let the name of Castrillon be celebrated as well.'' After reading The Breach by Brian Kaufman, I strongly second that sentiment. This novel is an interesting work written in the style of a daily journal. Kaufman documents the day to day activities of General Manuel Fernandez Castrillon and the Mexican Army as they march to San Antonio, capture The Alamo and continue north to reclaim Texas from the norteamericanos. It is a wonderful documentary of Castrillon's internal conflict with his unwavering loyalty to Mexico and an ever-increasing disgust with his President, General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna. Castrillon begins this military campaign strongly backing his President and believing that Santa Anna cherishes his military opinion. He learns, as the march slowly moves north, that Santa Anna is not the man Castrillon believed he was. As his disgust for Santa Anna grows, it becomes difficult for Castrillon to silence his contradictory views. These outbursts by Castrillon spark some tense moments between the two great men. The battle between the two men culminates when Santa Anna demands candor from Castrillon. Castrillon requests retirement from the Army after this campaign because he no longer wishes to serve in an Army commanded by Santa Anna. Brian Kaufman's writing is convincing. You believe you are reading a recently unearthed and translated journal of General Castrillon. I must add that I began reading this book without reading any of the advanced praise or cover blurbs. I did not know this was a work of fiction until I read the first sentence of the Afterword. I was, quite simply, dumbfounded. I read the entire journal believing it was real and never questioned it's authenticity. This is a good read filled with historical facts that become easy to remember because of Kaufman's style.

The Breach by Brian Kaufman is a historical novel that presents General Manuel Fernandez Castrillon, the man who was an Aide-de-Camp to the infamous Santa Anna in 1836 when the Mexican president and his army marched against Texas and conquered the Alamo. A powerful and compelling view of history, The Breach tells the story of an honorable Mexican soldier and his personal witness to the controversial aspects of the war, which included the execution of Davy Crockett and four other Alamo prisoners. The Breach is a compelling, deftly written, stirring, unflinching and insightful novel from cover to cover.

I'm no literary critic, but I know what I like. I'm a voracious reader and read Mr. Kaufman's book, The Breach, since he is a local author. Layered connotations and parallel concepts are appetizers and entree in this historical fiction. The setting is during a war, but this is not a war oriented book. The characters were real people, and his story reminds you of this fact. Personal motivations, political posturing, patriotic jingoism - all common traits now in the U.S., just as they were common traits in Mexico back then. Heros and attitudes were on both sides of the conflict and that is all portrayed without having to slight the "other side" in the process.He also uses the fictional journal as source material for The Breach, just as two of my favorite authors have (E. A. Poe and M. Crichton !), and Kaufman does it seamlessly.He commented, at a book signing, on how this novel was once rejected by judges of an historical fiction contest because they were duped into thinking the "journal" in the story was real!This is America and I'm sure you won't take my word for it. Good. Don't. Read it yourself. I'm betting you'll be motivated enough to write a review just like me. You might even contact the author (just as I have) with questions and comments. I've learned he is very approachable. Does it get any better than this? Maybe, but only in toxin-induced dreams. I'm ready to lick the toad again, and I can't wait for him to publish more.