Where the West Begins

Some historians insist that Texas, with its heritage of slavery, segregation, and historic dependence upon cotton, is southern in character. Another group argues that the state is western, as evidenced by its cowboys, cattle drives, mountains, and desert. Still others brand it unique, having won its independence from Mexico during the Texas Revolution and existing as an independent republic for ten years prior to joining the Union.With its immense land area, its diverse environment, cultures, and colorful history, and its larger-than-life legends, Texas does indeed seem like “a whole other country.” Throughout its existence, the Lone Star State has juggled a complicated assortment of identities. Its multiple characteristics often confuse observers and scholars—to the point that some ignore it altogether.Award-winning historian Glen Sample Ely seeks to set the record straight. Taking a fresh look at what exactly Texas is and what it is not, his groundbreaking work tackles these thorny questions by examining the tangled and fascinating strands that make up the DNA of Texas’s identity.

Glen Sample Ely’s documentaries have appeared on PBS, the History Channel, and the Discovery Channel. His scholarly work has appeared in journals such as Southwestern Historical Quarterly and the New Mexico Historical Review. A Ph.D. graduate of Texas Christian University, he lives in Fort Worth, Texas.www.texashistory.comAlwyn Barr, one of Texas’s most prolific historians, is retired from the department of History at Texas Tech University.