Aren't history books supposed to be dull as dishwater? I gave this book to my 80+ year-old Father for Christmas. He really enjoyed it! So did I, for that matter. Dr. Cashion must have spend untold hours interviewing old-time Texas High School football coaches and those who played under them. This book is as close to listening to those old timers as the written word can be. Growing up in football crazy Garland, Texas (back-to-back state championships in the 1960's under Chuck Curtis), I remember as a child "high school football fever." This hits the mark, or should I say is a "two point conversion."

A book that will take you back to the times of youth and rekindle the images that were buried with childhood. A facinating glimpse into the life and times of growing up in rural America and of "roots" from which we all spring. I truly enjoyed its comingling of the reality of growing ups happy tales and sad tales and the images they brought to my own mind about my youth.

Well worth the price - especially considering the welcome suprise on opening which was a copy signed by the author!

This was an amazing book. I had never even heard of Texas Jewry, but this tought me so much about it. It was so interesting ,and I learned so much. I really recomend this for pleasure reading, or it could be very useful for projects or reports.

This is probably one of the most enlightening books about farming on the Plains that I have read. Farmer DeLoach kept a daily diary of his thoughts about the weather, crop prices, World War I and it's affect on life on the Plains, and other "routine" occurances. Editor Neugebauer has enhanced the content by explaining and documenting the historical events that DeLoach wrote about. For example, when farmers were shipping grain overseas during WWI, he feared starvation for people in the U.S. if the Germans kept sinking the grain shipments, yet DeLoach said no one could talk about it because of the sedition acts that had been passed. Editor Neugebauer explains the sedition acts and farmer DeLoach's fears. In another example, DeLoach mentioned that the President of the U.S. had appealed to cotton gins to shut down in an attempt to drive the price of cotton up. The attempt failed because too much of the bumper crop had already been harvested, Neugebauer explained. I found the editor's notes to be very helpful and the pen and ink illustrations to be outstanding. This book *shows* the kind of effort and persistence early farming on the Plains required.

This is a classic of Civil War history, superbly researched and well-crafted by an author who has complete command of this crucial aspect of the Southern war effort. Not only is it well-written, the excellent research is immediately available to the reader due to the footnotes being located at the bottom of the page, rather than the inferior lay-out method of placing footnotes at the end of the book. In order for anyone to gain a full understand the Confederate war effort, Vandiver's PLOUGHSHARES INTO SWORDS is a must.

The Confederate army in the Trans-Mississippi Department has long been neglected by historians. Alwyn Barr wrote a wonderful account of the Texas brigade commanded by Camille Jules Marie, Prince de Polignac. Not only was his research meticulous, but his writing flows through the pages. Polignac's men fought in some of the largest battles west of the Mississippi--Sterling Plantation, Mansfield, Pleasant Hill, and Yellow Bayou--and proved themselves good soldiers. This book deserves to be on the shelves of anyone with an interest in the Trans-Mississippi Confederacy or in Confederate brigades in general.

A Brilliant Book from a Brilliant Teacher...Saxe delivers a very adequate description of the politics of Arlington, Texas. Saxe is knowledgable in the field of Politics, and his book is a definate must-read if you are interested in the local politics of an average American city.

Polly Miller, an 11 year old girl, is surprised when her father announces that the family is moving to Texas. They will go and work there at a dairy for a few years to pay off the farm, and then they will came back. But a 'few years' stretches into six, and during that time Polly makes friends with Rose Ann, an English girl her age. As Polly grows older a young cowboy, Tom Dawson, becomes interested in her. Polly sneaks out for late-night dates... Her parents don't know what's happening, but things keep getting worse! What will happen? Will Polly continue her deceit, or not?

I have read other books from this author Robert L. Maril. This book is not only informative and grounded in social fact; which makes it a great text book for students, but it is also a good read. Dr Maril has the ability to write in such a way that it challanges the academic mind, and at the same time the book is relatively easy to read for the none academic. I happen to live in the Lower Rio Grande River Valley of South Texas and really did not realize many things about the Valley, as we call it, until I read this book. I did not realize just how poor this area is becaue you have to get off the beaten path to see it. It is a great book and will leave you wanting more.

This wonderful book is a compulation of interviews of elderly people and thier memories of thier porches; past and present. There are some very memorable stories in this book. It's just like listening to your grandmother talk about her childhood. The pictures are vivid and beautifull. This book is a must for Texas history buffs. It is also a wonderful coffee table book, it would add interest and beauty to any room.