James A. Michners: TEXAS :: essays research papers

In this bright historical novel, James A. Michner skillfully combines fact and fiction to present virtuoso of our most expansive and diversified states. Spanning nearly four and a fractional centuries, Michner begins with the first Spaniards to explore parts of present day Texas, Cabeza de Vaca and Francisco Vasquez de Coronado and continues on to the branch of Texas as one of our most powerful states.Michners use of historical fact is extremely accurate in his portrayal of events in Texas history. particularly when he writes of the fight for Independence from Mexico. Michner only strays to fiction in an feat to illustrate to the reader what the lives of early Texans must have been like. His characters interact with unfeigned historical figures and create very believable scenarios of the events depicted in his novel. one and only(a) Scenario in particular is the Battle of San Jacinto. This is a historical event which stop in a decisive victory for the Texas Army and Independ ence for Texas. Michners depiction of this battle is very accurate except for two chief(prenominal) berths. In his novel, Stephen F. Austin is sent to destroy a ferry possess by a former lover, Mattie Quimper. This was to prevent the Mexican Army, under the see of global Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, from mark the river and give more time to the Texans to prepare for the ineluctable battle. This incident is sham, but it is similar-to another factual event. At San Jacinto, General surface-to-air missile Houston sent one of his men to destroy a bridge crossing the San Jacinto River. This was to prevent reinforcements from joining Santa Annas forces, which were already on the Island. The second point which was fictional ,but was based on an actual event, was the capture of General Santa Anna. In Michners novel, a bumbling Yancy Quimper, comes across a half naked as a jaybird Santa Anna, who was trying to evade capture by hiding in the trees.Quimper, universe a coward, nearly s hoots himself in the process. This alerts another fictional character, Otto MacNab. MacNab takes Santa Anna into custody and presents him to General Houston. In actuality, a Texas Army Sergeant captured Santo Anna the day following the battle.Michner includes these fictional characters as part of a sub-plot designed to keep the reader interested in what is a purely military campaign. He remains rightful(a) to historical facts and only adds fiction to color his amazing storytelling abilities.