Oklahoma Books

William Berry has written a well-detailed, although brief, look at his attempted escape and captivity after the fall of Correigdor. While not a scholarly look at these events, the author gives a good account of his capture, escape and trek through the jungle, recapture and liberation by American servicemen from Bilibid prison in Manila. He painfully recounts the agony these men went through as they were crammed, up to 13 men at one time, into a 10 by 10 cell and forced to sit, without flinching, and stare at the wall all day.

As a recaptured prisoner, Berry and his two comrades somehow survive the war, as the usual penalty for escape is execution. They were sent to the maximum security prison in Manila for "special prisoners", and many prisoners stopped here only long enough to be sentenced and shot. Berry, who was a fledgling lawyer before enlisting in the Navy, saw these skills save his life and the lives of his friends when being sentenced, not so much his arguments, of course, but rather how he shaped it to fit his audience (A Japanese tribunal)

This book does not take long to read, but it is an interesting tale, and well worth the time invested. But, if you want greater scope and detail of Americans in Japanese captivity, read "Prisoners of the Japanese" by Gavan Daws, an extremely informative and well-written look at the horrors these men had to endure daily.

The author of this book is my grandfather. I found this book to be inspiring as I am also a soldier. I am in the Army and found this book to give me a greater appreciation of my profession as well as bring a greater understanding of my grandfather's life and why he is so proud. I would recommend this book to anyone who wishes to understand what POWs in the Philippines went through. I have lent my copy of his book to several of my friends and they all gave it great reviews as well.

This is an excellent first hand account. It is rather well done, more so than several others I have read. I do wish we had more like this one. Very inspiring. I felt it gave even a greater insight to the war in the Pacific. Recommend you add this one to your collection.

One of the few true to life books written by a WWII POW. As a history buff I find the first hand accounts in this book of the authors experiances and the others he came in contact a first rate story of America's darkest time. A must for all those who want to know more about POW's of the Japanese.

Having been stationed in the Philippines and traveled to Battan and Corrigidor it brought the meaning of those visits a little sharper in focus.

Although I tend to be wary of any biographies that speak with an omnisient narrative voice, and don't cite their sources as they go, Hagan's book does well remaining mostly unbiased in discussing native-white relations, and stating facts. It has an excellent collection of pictures I haven't seen elsewhere, and gives a well-written account of Quanah Parker's life without 'juicing it up'. Being a descendent of Quanah Parker, I've read anything about him I can get my hands on, and this is definitely one of the better resources.

Our classroom read a poignant short story about his mother, Cynthia Ann Parker. I was pleased to find this book on the life of her son in this carefully researched, well-presented biography. It is an interesting read of a man and also a chief showing how he is torn between two worlds of belief and behaviors. Informative read. It received the Oklahoma History Book of the Year award.
Evelyn Horan - teacher/counselor/author
Jeannie, A Texas Frontier Girl, Books One - Three

This past summer, I made a trip to the reconstruction of Old Fort Parker in Groesbeck, TX - and the actual massacre site - where Cynthia Ann Parker, age 9, was captured by Comanche warriors and raised as a Comanche woman for the next 25 years before a well-meaning Texas Ranger discovered her and returned her to her white relatives. Cynthia Ann never readjusted to white society and, in mourning for her Comanche husband and her children, eventually starved herself to death. Yet, out of this tragic story, her son Quanah - half white, half Comanche - rose to become the most influential representative of the Comanche tribe and the last Comanche Chief.

In this book, author William T. Hagan presents the meticulously researched story of Quanah's life and the politics of both the white and native worlds which he straddled, serving as an eloquent bridge between two societies struggling for survival on the Oklahoma and Texas plains. An astute businessman, Quanah recognized the futility of staving off white settlement and turned his warrior energies toward negotiating for the best "deals" he could get for the American Indians. Although he made many trips to Washington, DC and the White House to represent the needs of the Indians and often wore western Anglo dress, he refused to give up his braids, his "much married condition" (7 wives), and his dedication to the peyote cult.

This is a fascinating book which I highly recommend to any afficianado of the Old West and Native America.

This past summer, I made a trip to the reconstruction of Old Fort Parker in Groesbeck, TX - and the actual massacre site - where Cynthia Ann Parker, age 9, was captured by Comanche warriors and raised as a Comanche woman for the next 25 years before a well-meaning Texas Ranger discovered her and returned her to her white relatives. Cynthia Ann never readjusted to white society and, in mourning for her Comanche husband and her children, eventually starved herself to death. Yet, out of this tragic story, her son Quanah - half white, half Comanche - rose to become the most influential representative of the Comanche tribe and the last Comanche Chief.

In this book, author William T. Hagan presents the meticulously researched story of Quanah's life and the politics of both the white and native worlds which he straddled, serving as an eloquent bridge between two societies struggling for survival on the Oklahoma and Texas plains. An astute businessman, Quanah recognized the futility of staving off white settlement and turned his warrior energies toward negotiating for the best "deals" he could get for the American Indians. Although he made many trips to Washington, DC and the White House to represent the needs of the Indians and often wore western Anglo dress, he refused to give up his braids, his "much married condition" (7 wives), and his dedication to the peyote cult.

This is a fascinating book which I highly recommend to any afficianado of the Old West and Native America.

This is one of the best books I have ever read...funny, moving, great characters...I just loved it! Corrine lives in Valentine, Oklahome, with her Aunt, her Aunt's new husband, and her cousin, a sweet and different little boy who lives in his own world. She is about to celebrate her 13th birthday and wants pierced ears and for Ricky Dale to give her her first kiss. At the same time, in New Orleans, her mother feels remorseful about giving her up while she tried to sort out her own chaotic life and decides to come to Valentine during Christmas to try to fix things up. As the characters interact and grow through experiences they share, they start to understand each other and become better people for it. The view is written through almmost-13-year old Corrine's eyes and her take on life is so refreshing and so very 13! This is a WONDERFUL book and I was thrilled to see she has written others set in Valentine, Oklahome...I bought every one and anticipate several great reads!!

Ms.Matlock writes great books on everday life set in a small town in Valentine OK. Its where lots of wisdom, common sense, majic and love occur. I eagerly await each new book!

I love Christmas, so this book was a HUGE hit for me! Great writing and for the time span it is supposed to be set at, it is full of day to day details.

A girl, Corrine, lives with her aunt and uncle. Everything is going great, then her mom says she is coming to visit for Christmas. Corrine wonders what will be in store for her after. Will she have to leave her life in Valentine and go live with her mom? Is there really a Santa Claus? Miracles happen in this book and you won't want to put it down! Enjoy!

This is a perfect book to read to get into the holiday spirit. I plan to give this to my sister as a pre-Christmas gift to help her remember all those steps to get ready for the big day! Matlock helped me be glad I do all those holiday chores every year.

This book is an excellent way to learn a bit of Oklahoma history as well as instilling the alphabet. I dofeel it is for older children-but who ever grows up!!!

This book is excellent for a project for our Centennial celebration this year. The curriculum is available from the publisher. Great activities for elementary students.

What a beautiful book about Oklahoma! Being a loyal Oklahoman, I was impressed with the information and history being portrayed in this book. Great for children and adults. Would also be great for History classes.

This book makes me beam with pride to be an Oklahoman! It is filled with relevant facts from what a sooner really is, the oklahoma city bombing, sooner and cowboy football, famous Oklahomans and much more. It I have bought several copies as gifts. It also has trivia questions in the back that follow along with the book; it would make a great educational tool. I highly recommend this to any Oklahoman!

As a student of Natural Spirituality I had acquired many books on Native Traditions which were lost (stolen) to me. This text was the first on my list to be replaced. Powers, himself calls his work a beginers lexicon of the Lakota language which makes it worthy in itself. His work extends beyond that with excellent insight into the song (music) which is a vital ingredient to the sacred traditions of the Lakota. He has an academic's passion for varification with other sourses which will provide a viable list of sources for future studies for those who appitite is only wetted with this volume. He is more of an academic than student,so be aware that it isn't light reading nor is it a 'how to guide to indian religion'. It is a well documented guide to basic belief system of the Lakota through his comprehension. While not complete, he has a sound basic understanding of 'the Sacred' to share with his readers

This is not for someone just trying to get a grasp of the general ideas of Lakota spirituality. This is a very detailed scholarly work about Lakota language as is it used by spiritual leaders and the meanings implied. If you are looking for something spiritual or emotional this probably isn't it, if you're looking for something more cerebral and you are a serious student of the Lakota then this is a must read.

I found this book to be excellent. It was informing and inspiring. It provided a lot of clarity about past experiences of participation in American Indian ceremony. I was especially amazed at the information about chanting, rattles, and drums. Although less interested in the subject, I was impressed by the clarity of differientiating between shaman and priest. Much of the information is very useful, in practical application for anyone who even marginally participates in the American Indian spiritual path. I am deeply grateful for this book.

This excellent discourse was produced by a man who lived with and learned from the old learned men of the Lakota, the "wicasa wakan", the "spiritual men".

Not for the casual reader, this book is great scholarly reading for those who strive to understand the very essense of religious thought.

I originally read this book almost 20 years ago (1983), along with John Richard Young's Schooling for Young Riders (also a must-read for beginners). The book is full of gentle, caring wisdom about the nature of horses and how best to partner with them. The author includes information about everything the novice horseman needs to know, from equipment to a variety of specific training and communication techniques. I have never encountered a better, more comprehensive text for the beginner who wishes to progess to confident competence. I highly recommend anything ever written by this author. It is a loss to us all that his books are no longer in print; he was ahead of his time 50 years ago, and he's still far more progressive than many contemporary trainers.

I originally read this book almost 20 years ago (1983), along with John Richard Young's Schooling for Young Riders (also a must-read for beginners). The book is full of gentle, caring wisdom about the nature of horses and how best to partner with them. The author includes information about everything the novice horseman needs to know, from equipment to a variety of specific training and communication techniques. I have never encountered a better, more comprehensive text for the beginner who wishes to progess to confident competence. I highly recommend anything ever written by this author. It is a loss to us all that his books are no longer in print; he was ahead of his time 50 years ago, and he's still far more progressive than many contemporary trainers.

I was lucky to find it in an antique store, but what a load of infomation it has provided me. It has given me more training advice and tips that I can use on western horses through to hunters. Starting from the foal to yearlings to finishing, he is practicle informative of training a well manered and obidient horse and is not bias in the breed of horses he uses. I found this a great book for any one who wants to lern more on riding and horsemanship. John Richard Young is a great horseman and knows and respects his horses.

I originally read this book almost 20 years ago (1983), along with John Richard Young's Schooling for Young Riders (also a must-read for beginners). The book is full of gentle, caring wisdom about the nature of horses and how best to partner with them. The author includes information about everything the novice horseman needs to know, from equipment to a variety of specific training and communication techniques. I have never encountered a better, more comprehensive text for the beginner who wishes to progess to confident competence. I highly recommend anything ever written by this author. It is a loss to us all that his books are no longer in print; he was ahead of his time 50 years ago, and he's still far more progressive than many contemporary trainers.

up your spine with this mystery evocative of Garcia Marquez and Hillerman rolled into one. Choctaw/Cherokee/Irish Vietnam vet Attis McCurtain is murdered; his friend Mundo Morales and his great uncle Luther know it immediately through vision and dreams. His brother Cole and father Hoey must find the body which authorities believe is still a living psycho on the lam.

As with his other novels, Owens tightly weaves many cultures to achieve a beautiful, funny and suspenseful story. If you're familiar with the mythological alter egos of Attis McCurtain and Diana Nemi it will take your breath away in its intricacy. A quick trip to read up on these two in Frazer's The Golden Bough will bring the story full circle, as manyNative American stories tend to be presented. This book has the sexiest octogenarian couple readers are ever likely to encounter along with surprise players from across cultures and times

up your spine with this mystery evocative of Garcia Marquez and Hillerman rolled into one. Choctaw/Cherokee/Irish Vietnam vet Attis McCurtain is murdered; his friend Mundo Morales and his great uncle Luther know it immediately through vision and dreams. His brother Cole and father Hoey must find the body which authorities believe is still a living psycho on the lam.

As with his other novels, Owens tightly weaves many cultures to achieve a beautiful, funny and suspenseful story. If you're familiar with the mythological alter egos of Attis McCurtain and Diana Nemi it will take your breath away in its intricacy. A quick trip to read up on these two in Frazer's The Golden Bough will bring the story full circle, as many Native American stories tend to be presented. This book has the sexiest octogenarian couple readers are ever likely to encounter along with surprise players from across cultures and times

"The Sharpest Sight" reads a little like a murder mystery and a little like a road trip book, though both descriptions fall woefully short of doing this book justice. This is a complex tale of self-discovery and psychic healing set amid a backdrop of Native American and Hispanic culture and history, with Viet Nam flashbacks, fumbling feds and some mildly graphic sex scenes to help keep the action moving forward. While the main characters are vividly drawn, and completely believable and sympathetic, for my money it was some of the secondary characters who made this book worthwhile. The bar owner, Jessard Deal, is particularly entertaining, especially as he disintegrates late in the book. Some of his dialogue is priceless. The same goes for some of the FBI agents, which take on absurd cariciature-like qualities late in the book. Louis Owens has a deft hand with subtle intrigue and the surreal qualities of truth and discovery, and is expert at creating an authentic sense of place and character.

The Sharpest Sight by Louis Owens is a mystery, a police procedural, a thriller, an exploration of identity, and magical realism all rolled up into one excellent novel. Sharpest Sight takes place in a [lightly fictionalized] Salinas Valley, California sometime near the end of the Vietnam War. Attis McCurtain, Vietnam vet and insane killer, has escaped from the state hospital and may or may not be dead. Mundo Morales, who is Mexican-American, Catholic, a Vietnam vet, a sheriff's deputy, and an old friend of Attis', and Cole McCurtain, who is Choctaw-Irish-American, and Attis' younger brother, must each try and unravel the mystery of Attis' disappearance. Mundo is aided by his duty to his buddy, his duty to his position in law enforcement, his love of his wife and child, and the ghost of his grandfather. Cole gets help from his dad Hoey, his Uncle Luther, a Choctaw elder and shaman, Old Lady Blue Wood, another elder and shaman, and his duty to his brother. The local crazed bartender, a twitchy Vietnam vet FBI agent, and the family of the girl Attis killed also play a major role. As the flooded river recedes towards dry river bed, all the characters converge towards a solution to the mystery and in some cases, a greater understanding of self. Potential readers unable to suspend disbelief in order to deal with ghostly grandfathers and magical Choctaw dirty tricks shouldn't even try to wade into this novel. For all others, I recommend that you dive into The Sharpest Sight and see where the flow takes you.

For someone who has yet to browse this book, think of it as a biography of a battlefield. But not just any battlefield, THE battlefield, which for those of us who are entranced with the study of the events of June 25-26, 1876, can only mean one place--the Little Bighorn. As with all of his Indian Wars books, Jerry Greene does a first-rate job in marshaling sources to give us a highly detailed and readable history of the battlefield. The level of detail extends right down to a discussion of even the flora and fauna found there. In only that regard, the book may suffer at times from the inclusion of details that may not be that terribly interesting but it is necessary for them to be provided so that we can have a complete a picture of the place as possible.

Just as his book on the Washita battle supplanted Stan Hoig's "best of the bunch" book on that battle, so too this book supercedes the late Don Rickey's 1960s era history of the Custer battlefield as the book to turn to for a recounting of all that has happened at that southeast Montana field of engagement. This statement in no way denigrates Don Rickey whose book preceded much of the change that has visited the battlefield in recent years. Mr. Greene builds on the excellent foundation Mr. Rickey placed. In recounting the events of the 1980s(battlefield archaeology), the 1990s (the name change from Custer battlefield to Little Bighorn, the placement of the first markers for the places where Indian warriors fell) and this decade (the 2003 dedication of the Indian Memorial on Last Stand Hill), Greene helps us realize that this and, to a lesser degree, all battlefields are "living" places that evolve over time and reflect our nation in each of those decades, just as the battle itself tells us much about America in 1876.

In addition to gaining much insight into the past of the Little Bighorn, there are a number of areas of this book that are highly entertaining. I especially enjoyed reading about an old soldier named White who superintended the battlefield cemetery in the early 20th century. Imagine having him show you around, for he had first visited Little Bighorn as a young trooper with the Second Cavalry, serving under Alfred Terry, just a few days after the battle itself, and thus saw this stricken field as none of us ever can and conveyed his impressions to visitors.

"I think the government can do no less than to give these remains decent burial, by putting them in coffins, and remove them to some suitable place....It is hard for me to understand how the remains of the officers could be in condition for removal....while those of privates and non-commissioned officers had become food for wolves....I want to secure the body of my son."
Samuel E. Staples' letter to Congressman William W. Rice (Rep-Mass.)
November 9, 1877

The pain and suffering from Mr. Staple's words leap out at you and hit you directly in the face. His son was Corporal Samuel F. Staples who died with Company I along battle ridge. These words from a father who lost his son at the Battle of the Little Bighorn would have a direct effect on the establishment of the Custer Battlefield as a national cemetery. One man can make a difference.

The story of Staple's father is just one of many new finds discussed in Jerome Greene's Stricken Field: The Little Bighorn Since 1876. The history of Custer Battlefield can be more fascinating than the battle itself:

* What to do with the remains of Custer, his officers, and his soldiers
* Should the grounds be designated a national cemetery
* Should the grounds be groomed or left to nature to maintain
* Should the extra soldier markers be removed
* Should the Indian warriors be memorialized
* How should the National Park Service (NPS) interpret the battle
* Custer buffs and their battles against the NPS created fireworks over the many decades; what were their outcomes
* Should there be an Indian Memorial

These are some of the questions answered. Every student fascinated with this place must understand its past to better understand it today, and to help protect it forever. Jerome Greene masters all of this in his magnum opus.

Stricken Field evolved from Mr. Greene's official 2005 report to the NPS at the request of former Superintendent Neil Mangum, current Superintendent Darrell Cook, and Chief Historian John Doerner. A study such as this was desperately needed. The only other history was written by past Chief Historian Don Rickey, Jr but it covered only the first 80 years. It was time to make it current.

Mr. Greene opens with an overview of the Custer Battle. The purpose of this book is not to rehash the battle in detail and Greene sticks to that purpose; his narrative on what happened to Custer and the 7th Cavalry is short and to the point. There is too much ground to cover after June 25-26, 1876, and Mr. Greene accomplishes that with depth and clarity.

Mr. Greene takes a complex subject (just keeping track of all the name changes at Custer Battlefield is difficult enough in itself) and helps us to more easily understand those complexities. Here you will discover the different government agencies that were responsible for the battlefield, how they saw their role in managing the place, the actions they implemented to accomplish their mission, and the people involved.

The different monuments and burials are covered: what happened to the Custer dead and the difficulties that followed in administering the national cemetery; how and why the remains from Ft. Phil Kearny were reinterred on Last Stand Hill and what happened to them afterwards; the placement of the 7th Cavalry Monument; the repositioning of the Ft. C.F. Smith monument and the Reno Monument; and the soldier and warrior markers. What about the visitor center and the Stone House as well as the other structures on the battlefield? The answers are shared in vast detail by Mr. Greene.

For me, one of the most fascinating segments of Stricken Field is the chapter regarding interpretation. During the War Department's administration, its primary focus was the many reinterments from the various western forts and maintaining the national cemetery. Interpretation was not their mission. That was furnished by Crow tribal members who accompanied visitors. Interpretation did not really begin until management of the battlefield was transferred from the War Department to the NPS in 1940. Reading how research and interpretation flourished at the battlefield is inspiring. All of us can be thankful for the vision that the first NPS superintendent Edward Luce and second NPS park historian Don Rickey, Jr. dreamed up in this endeavor. Their work still has an impact on the battlefield with the placement of red granite markers for fallen warriors.

Mr. Greene does not shy away from the many contentious battles waged against the NPS by the Custer Battlefield Historical and Museum Association (CBHMA), and Little Big Horn Associates (LBHA) respectively. Few battles benefited the battlefield as in the case against the partnership between NPS and North Shield Ventures; however, once we see all these clashes laid out before us, we realize even more so how most of them were fought more for personal needs rather than enhancement of the battlefield. Many of the younger generation interested in this battle are not even aware that the CBHMA was once a cooperating association with the NPS and managed the visitor center bookstore. Mr. Greene clearly covers the many successes the CBHMA achieved when cooperating with the NPS, as well as its downfall from it.

What is completely absorbing is another discovery by Mr. Greene in a letter written by Walter Camp to General Godfrey on November 6, 1920. In this very lengthy, never-before-published letter, Camp offers in-depth complaints about incorrect placement of soldier markers and the reinterment of the Ft. Phil Kearny dead on Last Stand Hill. These very same arguments can be heard at the battlefield or made against the NPS today.

Mr. Greene concludes the book with a chapter about the Indian Memorial and the battles fought by American Indian groups and individuals to honor their fallen warriors. Because of Mr. Greene's extensive research, we wholly comprehend the failures of the War Department and NPS in not listening to the needs of these Americans. But we also appreciate the achievements of the Indian Memorial and warrior markers that eventually took place because the NPS finally listened. Those successes began from bold initiatives set by the first American Indian superintendents, Barbara Booher and Gerard Baker. Their efforts began the building blocks of trust between the NPS and the Indian community. Immediately afterwards and during Superintendent Neil Mangum's administration, he harbored that trust and did not take it lightly; the consequence was dramatic change to the face of the battlefield for the better and forever. Mr. Greene documents Mr. Mangum's fight to finally have the Indian Memorial constructed. It is during the Indian Memorial dedication at the battlefield on June 25, 2003 that Mr. Greene ends this story.

Stricken Field leaves one breathless for its complete annals of the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument and its transformation from a small national cemetery without an official name to a magnificent Monument where all Americans now feel welcomed. What changes will we witness at Little Bighorn over the next 50 years? Who can say, but I envy the next generation that will experience that change.

Please visit the Friends of the Little Bighorn Battlefield website to see some of the photos from Stricken Field and read an extensive interview with Jerome Greene where he discusses his new book, his career as a historian, and the Little Bighorn Battlefield today. Select "Site Map" at the bottom of every page to easily find these specific pages.

This is an excellent update to many other published books about the Lettle Big Horn Battle Field. The author spends a lot of time dicussing the many problems that friendly organizations. Many of these organizations have had their differences with management of the battle field but most I believe had the interest of the history in heart. It's amazing to me that after so many years the argument of who did what to whom continues. Now the park wants to do ever more harm to it's self with more expansion. The author discusses this in detail. This is a must have book for anyone who loves the history to this wonderful historical place.

Stricken Field: The Little Bighorn Since 1876 by Jerome Greene is, for aficionados of the battle, a must own, must read. As a student of the battle, Gen. G. A. Custer and other major characters of the era, and the Native Americans they fought, the addition of the history and background of the battlefield and subsequent national monument is information one must have. I will admit the some of the minutia included became tedious after a while, but most of what is included is important.

The politics behind the formation of the national cemetery in partnership with the battlefield is also interesting to read. I also found quite interesting the point of view of the Crow residents of the area in thwarting the expansion of the battlefield proper; an aspect I never thought about before.

Greene spends little time with the battle itself. Almost anyone who would be interested in Stricken Field knows more about the battle than Greene included. What is of paramount value is the detail provided dealing with the history of the area including the geological information. I also found interesting the information provided about each of the superintendents and thought the inclusion of their photographs in the appendix was a nice touch. Certainly the information included about Edward S. Luce who headed up the facility between 1941 and 1956 was interesting. I never knew, for example, that Luce served in the 7th Cavalry in the early part of the twentieth century. That explains much about his commitment to the area. As a reader of the Notes section, the information provided there is most interesting and in some cases more interesting than the information in the chapter they relate to. Example, Notes for Chapter 2, #15, pp 267-268, and #21, pp 268-269. If these won't grab you, nothing will.

Jerome Greene is even handed and extremely fair in discussing the major groups that have an interest in the battlefield. I thought his treatment of the installation of the Indian Memorial to be both informative and evenhanded. Chapter Ten, in some ways, is the most important in the book.

Stricken Field is not a book that will be read by the masses. But for anyone who has been bitten by the events surrounding June 25, 1876, Stricken Field will provide a treasure trove of information that is interesting and important.

Peace always

I found this book at the dusty museum at Buffalo Gap, Texas,

and was enthralled!

Somebody has written the DIFINITIVE history of my early stompin'

grounds,

(the area whose back roads I traversed in my early 20's,

shooting .22 rimfire bullets into every road sign I encountered,

(statute of limitations HAS expired)

and as I read it,

I detected nary a false note.

Ty Cushion is a righteous dude,

(for a Baptist).

Forget the things you think you know about the history of this area. Dr. Cashion spent enormous amounts of time and effort tracking down the truth about events which have become part of Texas folklore--and has debunked a lot of what we "thought" we knew in the process. His books are as fascinating as his University lectures...hang on for a great read!

Well written! enjoyable to read. I had Dr. Cashion at Sam Houston State this fall. His class is great, it was a great learning expirience. The book is wonderful. Although I missed a couple of points about the book but that's ok.

While researching the town of Griffin for my own work, I was referred to Dr. Cashion's book by the curators of the Old Jail Art Center in Albany, TX. Not only is this book indispensible in any serious study of the town of Griffin, which was a hub of the cattle and buffalo trade in the mid-1800's (through which many notable western personas passed, such as John Selman -the killer of John Wesley Hardin, and the fabled poker queen Lottie Deno), it is also a fascinating account of the birth, life and eventual demise of a classic frontier boom town. Dr. Cashion's book, while also covering the whole of the Clear Fork Country (and also happily, its overlooked minority inhabitants), could almost be considered a biography of Ft. Griffin, if we can imagine the town itself as a personality. The book gives a fine description of the natural land as it was seen by its first inhabitants (and first European explorers), and goes on to describe the various elements (political, natural, social etc.) which led to the settling of the area. Griffin is treated with special interest, from its early beginnings as a military outpost, to its heyday as an outfitting and entertainment capital for buffalo hunters and later cattle outfits, to its oil days, and on through to its eventual decline. There are a great many interesting photographs, both of the land, of old surveying maps, and of the people who populated the area, white, black, and Indian. Of particular interest is the chapter `Just Plain Old Folks,' which records many of the daily doings, trials, and tribulations of the everyday citizens. Dr. Cashion writes with equal and obvious passion of the rawboned hunters and cattlemen, the violent sometimes gunmen like John Larn and Selman, who used both sides of the law to their own ends, the retired buffalo soldiers, just trying to make their living somewhere between the harsh trials of the land and the distrust of their white neighbors, and the women and children who found themselves living and working in lonely cabins far from the company of friends and neighbors. For this alone the book is worth it, but also worthy are the revisionist-minded attempts of the author to debunk the many stereotypes and outright falsehoods about the area which have passed as history for so long. Griffin the town is no more the blood-soaked, bullet-riddled Sodom of the west that it has sometimes been portrayed as in fiction and some history (an old biography of Doc Holliday comes to mind, and is once referred to by the author) than is any other myriad of western towns which has ever romantically laid claim to that misnomer. The stories of its people however, are no less interesting, and Dr. Cashion's book proves that. Highly recommended!

This landscape guide is an excellent tool for your Texas landscape. One of the best items (other than full color renderings), is that the book show you what plants will look like from initial planting to full-grown plants. I would highly recommend it.

I'm a certified Master Gardener and I find this book so helpful and really good for Texas landscapes. It is clear and has great illustrations. This book should be in every Texas gardener's book collection!

Having recently purchased my first home I picked up five different gardening books. I don't even know where the other four have gone, but now I have two of this one. It's a great guide which covers everything from plants that should thrive in the area (including care, size, and how to select), to various designs for commonly-found areas around your home.

It even covers various landscape construction projects such as fences, walks, and patios, and is well-written and illustrated throughout.

[...]

New edition is a wealth of knowledge for each area of Texas. Sections on walkways and paths and sections on specific plants for your area are the best I've read.