First published 2019
Brian Kilmeade chronicles the pivotal six weeks that transformed Texas from crushing defeat to stunning victory. In March 1836, General Santa Anna's Mexican forces slaughter over two hundred defenders at the Alamo, including legends Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett. The massacre devastates Texian hopes for independence. General Sam Houston faces a demoralized population and a seemingly unstoppable enemy army. Rather than surrender, Houston uses the Alamo tragedy to unite scattered settlers behind a single cause. He rebuilds his forces while Santa Anna grows overconfident. Six weeks later, Houston leads his unlikely army against Santa Anna's troops in a battle that will determine Texas's fate. Kilmeade reveals how Houston balanced military strategy with political necessity, showing the calculated risks behind moments of apparent heroism. The book captures both famous figures and forgotten settlers who sacrificed everything for freedom. This New York Times bestseller demonstrates how devastating loss can become the foundation for unexpected triumph.
Genres: biography, historical-fiction, 20th-century, american, 19th-century, american-history
Vibes: emotional, fast-paced, thought-provoking
Tropes: based-on-true-events, underdog-story
Setting: Texas, Alamo
Period: 1836
272 pages · Hardcover · Sentinel