Inside the Alamo

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Murphy, Jim. 2003. Inside the Alamo. New York: Delacorte Press. ISBN 0385325746.

PLOT SUMMARY

“Remember the Alamo” is a cry with which even those who live outside of Texas are familiar.  Why? What about the Alamo captured the attention of a young nation? Jim Murphy’s Inside the Alamo provides a fascinating glimpse not only inside the Alamo, but outside as well. Murphy gives a brief, but exciting look at the events leading up to the Battle of the Alamo, the personalities involved, and the aftermath of the battle and its effect on the fledgling republic. Names such as Santa Anna, Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie, and William Travis are brought to life through short biographies that are interspersed throughout the book.

Through the use of paintings contemporary to the times, modern paintings, archival photographs, maps, and excerpts from letters and diaries, Murphy offers a balanced look at the conflict between Mexico and Texas. Inside the Alamo leaves the reader with the desire to learn more about this exciting time in Texas and American history.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Jim Murphy has done a remarkable job in presenting a well-balanced view of the events and personalities of the Alamo. His look at this historic event, which has so impacted Texas history and fascinated generations of Texans, begins with Santa Anna and the Mexican army outside of the Alamo. Murphy then takes us back in time to give a brief history of the events leading up to the dawn of March 6, 1836. In the pages that follow the Battle of the Alamo, Murphy gives a succinct account of the capture of Santa Anna, the birth of a republic, and the annexation of Texas into the United States.

What is particularly remarkable about Murphy’s account of the history surrounding the events leading up to, during, and after the Battle of the Alamo is the care with which he approaches potentially controversial issues. He offers differing viewpoints that exist amongst the eyewitness accounts of the time and of historians, without passing judgment. For example, in relating the death of Jim Bowie, Murphy carefully recounts four different versions of Bowie’s death. He writes, “Which is true? As with many conflicting details about the siege and attack of the Alamo, there is no definite answer.” He then goes on to state why, based on historical knowledge of Bowie, some accounts of Bowie’s death are more feasible than others, and he leaves us with a quote accredited to Bowie’s mother, “I’ll wager they found no wounds in his back.”

Each two-page spread in Inside the Alamo contains a map, photograph, sidebar with interesting or pertinent information, painting, essay, or biography. The main text includes excerpts from letters and diaries of participants. Murphy’s biographies of the main players are just as well balanced as his narrative of the events of the Alamo. He does not attempt to sanctify any of his historic figures. While he obviously cannot include every detail of each man in a one-page essay, he manages to capture the essence of each, faults and all.

Inside the Alamo has an extensive range of both visual and verbal access features. In addition to a table of contents and index, notes and bibliography are included. Included also is a list of those inside the Alamo, with notations indicating survivors, couriers, and children. As noted above, there are photographs, paintings, maps, sidebars, and biographies as well. While browsing the book or using the index to pinpoint specific information can yield a wealth of information, this book is of an extremely readable nature, and once started, it will captivate readers and draw them through the book from start to finish.

PERSONAL RESPONSE

While I readily admit that my knowledge of history is not what it should be, I am a sucker for Texas history, especially when it is as well written as Inside the Alamo. This book was a far cry from a dry, boring account of the Battle of the Alamo and the events leading up to it. I enjoyed reading the sidebars, the personal accounts, and studying the maps and trying to visualize all of this in conjunction with what the Alamo looks like today.

REVIEW EXCERPTS

Booklist Book Review Stars, 2003; American Library Association

H.W. Wilson: Children’s Catalog, 2004 & 2006; Middle and Junior High Catalog, 2004 & 2005

Kirkus Book Review Stars, 2003

Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People, 2004; National Council for the Social Studies

School Library Journal Book Review Stars, 2003

YALSA Best Books for Young Adults, 2004; American Library Association

Booklist Starred Review: “…this resource is not only a valuable addition to American history units, but also a great introduction to the historical writing method.”

Kirkus: “This is history writing at its finest - lively prose, sidebars, profiles of key players, an abundance of archival photographs, engravings, paintings, and maps, and an N.C. Wyeth painting gracing the cover.”

CONNECTIONS

§  Inside the Alamo could be an integral part of a study of Texas history. Additional resources could include the following books:

·      Nelson, George S. The Alamo: An Illustrated History. ISBN 9780965915908.

·      Tanaka, Shelley. A Day That Changed America: The Alamo. ISBN 9780786819232.

·      Walker, Paul Robert. Remember the Alamo: Texians, Tejanos, and Mexicans Tell Their Stories. ISBN 9781426300103.

§  If time and resources allow, and one of the museums listed in the picture credits is nearby, visit and take a tour. Students can find the photographs and paintings used in the book, and locate others that exist, but were not used in this particular history of the Alamo.

§  Using the excerpts from diaries and letters found in the book, have students choose a perspective (Alamo defender, Mexican army, or citizen of Bexar) and write an account of the events of the 12 days leading up to the Battle of the Alamo.

§  And of course, if San Antonio is within striking distance - take a trip and see the Alamo in person!