Two For Texas
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Product Description
Product Description
Son Holland arrived in the Louisiana penal camp determined not to spend the rest of his days suffering in a chain gang - but he didn't imagine for one minute that in order to escape he would need to kill a man. Terrified for his life, he flees the state across the river to Texas, taking with him a beautiful Indian squaw and a fellow prisoner. And as they make their way towards General Houston's infamous Texas Rangers they find themselves in the midst of the final tragic battle for the Alamo. TWO FOR TEXAS has all the lyrical beauty and powerful storytelling of James Lee Burke at his very best.
About the Author
James Lee Burke is the author of nineteen previous novels, including twelve featuring Detective Dave Robicheaux. He lives with his wife, Pearl, in Missoula, Montana and New Iberia, Louisiana.
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The first day that Son Holland arrived in the penal camp, manacled inside a mule-drawn wagon with seven other convicts, he knew that he would eventually escape, that he would die before he would spend ten years in a steaming swamp under the guns and horse quirts of malarial Frenchmen with Negro blood in their veins and a degenerate corruption in their hearts. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
The first day that Son Holland arrived in the penal camp, manacled inside a mule-drawn wagon with seven other convicts, he knew that he would eventually escape, that he would die before he would spend ten years in a steaming swamp under the guns and horse quirts of malarial Frenchmen with Negro blood in their veins and a degenerate corruption in their hearts. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
James Lee Burke, the creator of the Robicheaux detective series, is a fascinating writer. His image-laden prose can soar out of the confines of the genre fiction he works in and offer tremendous insight, almost magically composed.
In Two for Texas, the discipline of the Western genre suits this style well and the weaknesses of his later works - confusing plots, lazy villain caricatures, are avoided. His prose is spare, lean and - like the early Robicheaux novels - a lot is conveyed through clever dialogue. The early scenes of this book - with the hero Son Holland and his wise buddy Hugh Allison in prison - are the best. The penal system of the Deep South is something that Burke returns to in his work and he really knows his stuff, plus he can convey the futility and misery of such a life extremely effectively.
As the plot crosses the South and gets caught up in the Texas Revolution - Jim Bowie and all - the story falters a little. We kind of know all this. However I would strongly recommend people buy this book to get a master class in stark, engrossing fiction. I cannot agree with the reviewer who says this isn't well written.
In Two for Texas, the discipline of the Western genre suits this style well and the weaknesses of his later works - confusing plots, lazy villain caricatures, are avoided. His prose is spare, lean and - like the early Robicheaux novels - a lot is conveyed through clever dialogue. The early scenes of this book - with the hero Son Holland and his wise buddy Hugh Allison in prison - are the best. The penal system of the Deep South is something that Burke returns to in his work and he really knows his stuff, plus he can convey the futility and misery of such a life extremely effectively.
As the plot crosses the South and gets caught up in the Texas Revolution - Jim Bowie and all - the story falters a little. We kind of know all this. However I would strongly recommend people buy this book to get a master class in stark, engrossing fiction. I cannot agree with the reviewer who says this isn't well written.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
For a relatively short book Two for Texas covers a lot of ground. It starts with an account of the grim reality of life in the Louisiana penal system in the early 1800's and goes on to tell much of the history of the Texas Revolution. As a huge fan of the author I have to say that this early piece does not have the raging power of his later books. The first part of the story is, though, very well told as we follow Son Holland's life in the penitentiary and his ultimate escape, with a fellow prisoner, through the assisted murder of a prison guard. As the pair are chased into Texas they set out to track down General Houston's Texas Rangers and enlist. At this point, the story evolves into a history of the key events and characters of the time (Jim Bowie and Davy Crockett are both featured) but here the characterisation is somewhat lost and the big events take over. We follow Son as he witnesses the battle of the Alamo and takes part in the final battle of San Jacinto, where Santa Anna's forces are finally defeated. All good stuff, but I think I'd rather have followed Son's more personal journey through this second half of the book.
If (like me) you are not aware of the historical significance of the Revolution and where legendary events like the battle of the Alamo fit in then this will fill in some gaps. But if you're seeking out Burke's best work then give this a miss and read anything he wrote from 1986 onwards; in fact start with Neon Rain and you'll see what this brilliant author really has to offer.
If (like me) you are not aware of the historical significance of the Revolution and where legendary events like the battle of the Alamo fit in then this will fill in some gaps. But if you're seeking out Burke's best work then give this a miss and read anything he wrote from 1986 onwards; in fact start with Neon Rain and you'll see what this brilliant author really has to offer.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
During the golden age of the Western, Hollywood would have us believe that, although a dangerous place, it was relatively clean and anyone could live there. As time progressed newer films and TV shows such as 'Deadwood' highlighted that a lot of the West was full of dirty criminals who fled there to live outside the law and use as much crass language as they wished.
'Two for Texas' is in keeping with this modern look at the West. We follow two escaped convicts as they try to keep one step ahead of the posse out to find them. They get involved with adventures with Native Americans, Mexicans and even the Alamo!
Burke tries to keep an authentic feel throughout by using the language of the day and keeping all the setting in the dirty and disgusting way they would be. Reading the way he describes the West is definitely the best part of this novel. Limitations come in the narrative itself. It is quite linear and not always as believable as I would like. This is the first novel I have ever read about the Wild West and it had peaked my interest to read another - perhaps one with a story as good as its descriptions.
'Two for Texas' is in keeping with this modern look at the West. We follow two escaped convicts as they try to keep one step ahead of the posse out to find them. They get involved with adventures with Native Americans, Mexicans and even the Alamo!
Burke tries to keep an authentic feel throughout by using the language of the day and keeping all the setting in the dirty and disgusting way they would be. Reading the way he describes the West is definitely the best part of this novel. Limitations come in the narrative itself. It is quite linear and not always as believable as I would like. This is the first novel I have ever read about the Wild West and it had peaked my interest to read another - perhaps one with a story as good as its descriptions.
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