jjares reviewed The Texas Rangers: A Captivating Guide to the History of a Law Enforcement Agency That Has Helped Stop Some of America's Most Infamous Criminals and Their Role in the Mexican-American War on + 3270 more book reviews
Frankly, I am shocked by this diatribe posing as 'history.' I feel the entire 'Introduction' is inflammatory. Then the book is filled with chapters having little to do with the Texas Rangers, but lots to do with labeling the incoming Americans as "instigating a war for independence...." (location 275 of 1513) By the book's own admission, the Spanish (before they were defeated and sent packing) and the Mexican governments kept changing the rules.
I'd like to know precisely where the author got the information that the Rangers were 'annoyed with their role.... Many of them preferred either to fight in the war against the Mexicans or against the Native Americans." (location 328 of 1513) What is the point of saying, "There were times when the Rangers would act as judge, jury, and executioner, something that was accepted by the settlers because they did not have any other established justice system." (location 337 of 1513) So, what was the point of saying that? If there was no legal system in place, what do you think they were told to do?
The last paragraph in chapter 3 is so egregious, I am absolutely enraged. This book is full of 'treacherous Texans.'
Ben McCulloch 'died fighting for the losing side at the Battle of Pea Ridge in 1862.' (location 871 of 1513) The choice of words here is provocative. Frank Hamer was not working for Louisiana; he was commissioned as an officer of the Texas Highway Patrol at the time of the killing of Bonnie and Clyde. Author John Boessenecker gives a more accurate portrayal of the couple's death.
This book shows that Texans were/are lying ruffians intent on murdering everyone in their way. The author is applying present-day sensibilities to what happened during a different day and time. The Texas Rangers offered the only law available at the time; all of them were not heroes, no one argues that point. But the page-after-page-of-haranguing about the Rangers and the Indians is beyond excessive. This is the most vile book I've read in years. Captivating History should be ashamed of putting their name on such trash. I gave this one star because the system wouldn't let me give it a zero.
I'd like to know precisely where the author got the information that the Rangers were 'annoyed with their role.... Many of them preferred either to fight in the war against the Mexicans or against the Native Americans." (location 328 of 1513) What is the point of saying, "There were times when the Rangers would act as judge, jury, and executioner, something that was accepted by the settlers because they did not have any other established justice system." (location 337 of 1513) So, what was the point of saying that? If there was no legal system in place, what do you think they were told to do?
The last paragraph in chapter 3 is so egregious, I am absolutely enraged. This book is full of 'treacherous Texans.'
Ben McCulloch 'died fighting for the losing side at the Battle of Pea Ridge in 1862.' (location 871 of 1513) The choice of words here is provocative. Frank Hamer was not working for Louisiana; he was commissioned as an officer of the Texas Highway Patrol at the time of the killing of Bonnie and Clyde. Author John Boessenecker gives a more accurate portrayal of the couple's death.
This book shows that Texans were/are lying ruffians intent on murdering everyone in their way. The author is applying present-day sensibilities to what happened during a different day and time. The Texas Rangers offered the only law available at the time; all of them were not heroes, no one argues that point. But the page-after-page-of-haranguing about the Rangers and the Indians is beyond excessive. This is the most vile book I've read in years. Captivating History should be ashamed of putting their name on such trash. I gave this one star because the system wouldn't let me give it a zero.
