Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 27, 1993 TAG: 9306270181
SECTION: HORIZON PAGE: B-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Reviewed by LARRY SHIELD
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
THE RAVEN'S BRIDE. By Elizabeth Crook. Southern Methodist University Press. $12.95 (trade paper).
Over the past weeks much hoopla surrounded the 250th birthday of a Son of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson. Totally forgotten was the 200th birthday of another Son of Virginia who was instrumental in securing almost the entire southern border of our country, Sam Houston.
In "Sword of San Jacinto," Marshall De Bruhl exhaustively explores the complex life of Houston from his birth in 1793 just north of Lexington, Virginia to his death in 1863. During the 69 years of his life, Houston fought in the War of 1812 under Andrew Jackson, served in both houses of the United States Congress, and ambassador to the United States from the Cherokee Nation. He was governor of two states, defeated the Mexican Army to win independence for the Republic of Texas, and then became the first elected President of Texas.
Later, he was cast into virtual exile for defending the Union during the Civil War. He also married three times.
His long association with Andrew Jackson formed the basis of most of Houston's life. He was severely wounded in the war of 1812 under Jackson's command, and was a member of the House of Representatives when the presidency was stolen from Jackson by John Quincy Adams and Henry Clay. During the next four years, he defended Jackson, even fighting a duel over the election.
Most importantly, he went to Texas at Jackson's request to bring the enormous territory into the Union. This biography covers Houston's complex life with detail and insight.
Southern Methodist University has reissued Elizabeth Crook's "The Raven's Bride," an historical novel covering the first marriage of Sam Houston to 18-year-old Eliza Allen. It was a union that lasted all of 11 weeks. The separation caused such a scandal that Houston was forced to resign as governor of Tennessee, and entered a self-imposed exile within the Cherokee Nation. As both Sam Houston and Eliza Allen Houston refused to speak about the incident, Elizabeth Crook has fleshed out a portion of Houston's life which will forever be hidden in mystery.
Using literary license Crook spins a possible history more in the genre of a romance novel than strict historical fiction as offered by James Michener and Irving Stone. But now interested readers can turn to De Bruhl's excellent biography.
Larry Shield trains horses and dogs in Franklin County
by CNB