Stephen F. Austin: Empresario of Texas (Lamar Series in Western History) Paperback – Import, 5 October 2001

I thoroughly enjoyed this historical work. I had some pre-conceived ideas about Stephen F. Austin and Cantrell not only made this an entertaining read, it had the kind of detail and honesty about Austin's personality and contradictions that I really needed to clearly understand. While I am biased on this point, I think he's too hard on Samuel May Williams who almost every historian acknowledges was probably Austin's right hand, business mind and closest confidant. I sense a little bias there. Cantrell skillfully weaves a few truly wonderful tales about Sam Houston arriving on a little horse at the start of the revolution with his legs nearly touching the ground to a very insightful analysis of Austin's relationship with his cousin, Mary Austin Holley. I did find the biography by Rebecca Smith Lee to have a few details that could have been easily added to make Greg Cantrell's version even a bit more interesting. But as it the telling of history, where does one stop the story and go on. I can however tell you that he trounces that Sterling Robertson scoundrel in this book and in other works I have since followed, much to my satisfaction and admiration for his skillfull debate on the matters concerning the man. Bravo!

Wonderful look into a period of Texian history. Stephen wanted to be the father of a new country like George Washington was for the US. His motives and others mistakes made the birth of the Republic possible. By that time Sam Houston stumbled into the limelight a second time and eclipsed Stephen. Sam Houston did not deserve the attention but history often looks at the finish line not the effort expended.

Reads like a history book should with good footnotes and thorough breadth.

I am writing a book. Nonfiction.

In depth biography about SF Austin. Good read for any historian