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A Time to Standx$2.60
  (14 reviews)
Best Price: $2.60
On the morning of March 6, 1836, in an old abandoned mission called the Alamo, a small Texas garrison fought to the death rather than yield to an overwhelming army of Mexicans. Through the years the garrison’s heroic stand has become so clothed in folklore and romance that the truth has nearly been lost. In A Time to Stand Walter Lord rediscovers and recreates the whole fascinating story. From contemporary documents, diaries, and letters, he has mined a wealth of fresh information that throws intriguing sidelights on the epic of the Alamo. What were the defenders like? Why did they take their stand? Did any escape? Did Davy Crockett surrender?
The cast of characters includes not only famous figures like Jim Bowie but unknown, unsung men: John Purdy Reynolds, the wandering Pennsylvania surgeon; George Kimball, the industrious New York hatter, Micajah Autry of Tennessee, who was a far better poet than a businessman. And then there are the Mexicans: the fabulous Santa Anna; the smooth Colonel Almonte; the forlorn private Juan Basquez, who only wanted to stay home and make shoes.
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Customer Reviews
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The Real Story, without the Spin
By A97QS4XYRLZGH on 2003-08-22
The battle of the Alamo is currently being fought all over again between Traditionalists, who present the "Texans as heros" view, and Revisionists, who view this heroic view with post-modern skepticism. Why is it being re-fought, and what is at stake? Simply, because the viewpoint that prevails will impact current social attitudes towards multi-culturism and racial diversity - a central motif of current American politics. Once again, the battle is fierce - with no mercy, and no prisoners. Deguello! It is almost impossible to find an objective presentation of the facts without this modern political spin. As a remedy, I recommend the following considerations, before reading any book about the Alamo: 1.) Mexicans and Texians were at war. Both sides had extremely prejuidiced views of the event - such is war. These extreme views are the source materials for ALL writers of the history of the battle. 2.) All but a few of the Texians that were present at the battle died without telling their stories. The Mexican view had far more voices left afterwards to tell their version. Even so, the Texian's version has usually prevailed. 3.) Eyewitness reports are extremely contradictory. This is not suprising, considering that the climax events occured in the dark, within a small walled compound filled with black powder smoke, erupting cannons, fire, confusion, screams, panicked soldiers, etc. 4.) In a sentence, the war was between extremely independently minded American pioneers (regardless of their various personal agenda) and an army serving the will of an extremely controlling Mexican President (seeking rigorously centralized government power). In the simplest sense, the fight was between men who wanted minimal government influence on their lives, and a government who wanted maximum influence and control on their lives. (Somehow, this story always repeats itself.) Nonetheless, as with all historical events, something of a coherent story can be tickled out of the confused mass of information. A good detective can "triangulate" the most probable facts of the event, if he or she approaches the information with common sense and a minimum of personal agenda.
I have read all but a few of the books available on the Alamo, and can attest that Walter Lord does one of the better, most complete, jobs of reporting the event objectively. He also does it within the shortest space - "A Time to Stand" is a comparatively brief book. Revisionists will tell you that this book is "fluff", or biased - usually because they have a different bias they want to sell you. Beware the "historian" that has found "new information", has a "new and improved analysis", or who applies modern worldviews to an age when people saw the world differently. There is nothing new about rewriting history for political ends. Walter Lord's "A Time to Stand" is the standard. Read it first, before you sample the works of the combatants in the new battle of the Alamo. And read it before you watch the new movie, to be released Christmas 2003. With Revisionist Stephen Hardin as one of the historical advisors, it promises to be the Revisionist "Manifesto". Just a few opinions from a world-wise Texan...
The Alamo as epic adventure story
By A2EENLV6OQ3DYM on 2000-07-15
As a writer, Walter Lord has written the history of some of history's most epic stories, from the sinking of the Titanic to the American victory at Midway. It seems the better the drama, the better his prose. He retells the story of the battle for Texan independence from Mexico the treatment it deserves, in the process seperating fact from myth. The story of the Alamo is of course exciting, but I found Sam Houston's victory over Santa Anna at the battle of San Jacinto even more interesting. This is a great history book from one of the best history writers of the 20th century.
The Texas Bible
By on 2003-01-28
"A Time to Stand" was the first book about the Alamo I ever read (some forty years ago). With adrenalin still pumping after seeing the John Wayne film, I was desperate to know more. Now the adrenalin pumps every time I read this great book. Though other more recent books present more updated material, most "Alamophiles" agree that Walter Lord's version is the "Holy Grail" of all Alamo publications. Any person who reads other books on this subject, but fails to read "A Time to Stand", is getting only part of the story.
Great introduction to Alamo history
By A1O30ZJ181B4JH on 2004-04-29
"A Time to Stand" is perhaps one of the best books ever written on the historic Battle of the Alamo. Walter Lord, a reporter turned non-fiction writer, focuses mainly on the general events that took place during the siege, rather than on specific character studies of the three main heroes (Travis, Bowie, Crockett), but that does not in any way tarnish the end result. His account is very vivid and detailed, and gives the reader a real sense of what it must have been like to be behind those old adobe walls. An good addition to the book is a fold-out map of the Alamo complex as it looked in 1836, plus various pictures and facsimiles of letters sprinkled throughout. A highly recommended read and wonderful introduction to the real story of the Alamo.
An English View
By A2FOP8SFH1CMIM on 2002-05-23
It seems virtually impossible for anyone outside the USA to find any form of realistic guide to the best narratives or texts on American history by Americans.
Whereas English history, French history, Russian history, etc. etc. has its recognised 'authorities', US history seems to have a collection of 'pro' tradition or 'con' tradition writings.
Walter Lord's book 'A Time To Stand' may have its detractors and its supporters but in the simplest of terms it does actually tell the story of the siege of the Alamo including the build up and the aftermath. Further reading may be a good move for in depth study but this book gets the reader into the history itself with very little forced interpretation of possible fact or rumour or political spin.
For the non-USA reader who just want to know what happened it's a must.
- best book ever writtin on the alamo
By A2RARGJ1N5HWUE on 1999-08-15
even though this book was writtin in 1961, it is still the father of all alamo books,this man is a true historian. some "new" facts may have come out since then but this is a true and balance account of the story. if you only buy one alamo book, this is the one to get.
- Dispite Fluff, "A time to Stand" still stands true.
By AW664JDR2MJH9 on 2001-01-28
I was pleased to find "A Time To Stand" in print again after many years. Although I've enjoyed every book of Walter Lord's I've read, and admit that he does his homework and strives to present the historical facts, I feel his writing tends to lean to the fluff and lacks bite. The historical subjects he has chosen to cover useually contain tragedy, (The sinking of the Titanic), and violence, (Pearl Harbor), yet his prose tends to be polite and fluffy, lacking the blood and guts of the bottom line that the events actually presented themselves in. It's almost as if there is a fictional writer in Lord screaming to be set free. Yet none of this subtracts from the hard hitting, factual research that is the nut of Lords work; he never fails to present the facts as they happened.
- Must-read History of the Battle of the Alamo
By A1A692B4XLFOLL on 2007-09-18
Walter Lord's "A Time to Stand" is a great history of the Battle of the Alamo for the general reader. This short, readable book should be read by every American to get the basic history of one of the most famous battles in American history.
Lord tells the story of the Battle of the Alamo, and the campaign leading up to it, in an easy-to-read yet detailed narrative without getting bogged down in details. He brings life to many of the famous and less-than-famous defenders. He also describes the political climate in Texas and the United States and why the Battle of the Alamo, a loss for the Texans, was so important in Texas' journey to independence.
Just as importantly, though, Lord continues the story beyond the fall of the Alamo. He continues the campaign to its conclusion as Sam Houston and his Texans destroy Santa Ana's army at San Jacinto, with "Remember the Alamo" as their battle cry.
- For my money nobody tells a story better than Walter Lord.
By on 1999-02-12
What I liked: For my money nobody tells a story better than Walter Lord. It was reading his great book Day of Infamy which helped get me interested in Military History. I strongly recommend all of his books. What I didn't like: A bit biased toward the american perspective but you have to remember when it was written.
- Walter Lord can Write!
By A29E0Q47E8CPPO on 2000-07-10
My five star review can actually fit for any book by Walter Lord. Walter Lord is one of those Historian writers who can recreate an event so well its like you are there. He has done it for the Titanic, Pearl Harbor, Dunkirk, Midway, and the Alamo.As other reviewers have pointed out this is an older book. Yes many books have been written on the Alamo since. But none are as good. Lord recreates what happened and even though we all know the results, the book is still exciting. Lord also includes an interesting sections on linguring questions about the Alamo. This book is highly recommended as are all other books by Walter Lord.
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