 Frederick Law Olmsted's A Journey Through Texas gives the reader a clear and unvarnished account of life in the young state prior to the Civil War. His travels covered the years 1856 and 1857, when talk of Civil War and close encounters with native tribes were at the forefront of frontier life. Olmsted's descriptions of cities and towns well known to us today, like San Antonio, Goliad, Houston, San Marcos, and Fredericksburg, give the reader a fascinating glimpse into the formation of the state. From its earliest foundations, Olmsted reveals that Texas has been a melting pot of race and ethnicity. Native tribes, Germans, English, Irish, Mexicans, and Africans all came to Texas searching for a better life. The author interviewed a wide variety of inhabitants, including farmers, priests, cowboys, and small business owners; some who have quickly attchieved their dream, and some who are struggling to survive. If you feel that life is difficult to manage now, reading Olmsted's account of early Texas will give you a new outlook on life.
1 Comment
Dave
8/22/2021 09:54:07 am
This book was one of the first I read on the early history of the state. I don't always agree with the author's perspective, but he gives an intersting account of the people and the development at the time prior to the Civil War. Leave a Reply. |