Forget the Alamo: The Rise and Fall of an American Myth

Bryan Burrough, with Chris Tomlinson and Jason Stanford, argues that the popular story of the Alamo as a stand of freedom-loving Texans against a tyrant is largely a myth, shaped by later writers, films and politics. The book retells the 1836 battle, then shows how the narrative was built in the following century, with emphasis on how slavery was central to the Texan cause, and how Mexican-Texan fighters were pushed aside. It follows the myth through John Wayne's film and the school curriculum, and the fights over the site in San Antonio.

It suits readers interested in Texas and American history, and in how public memory is made. It offers an account that is critical of traditional versions.

Outward-looking and clear-cut; a moderate read.

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