Book Summary and Reviews of The Rebels by Elmer Kelton

The Rebels by Elmer Kelton

The Rebels

Sons of Texas, Trilogy Part III

by Elmer Kelton

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  • Published:
  • Nov 2007, 304 pages
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About this book

Book Summary

It is the mid 1830s and a growing flow of American pioneers into Mexican Texas has sown the seeds of revolution. In the midst of the turmoil are the Lewis brothers – Andrew, Michael, and James – scions of Mordecai Lewis, who crossed the Sabine River into Texas a decade past.

Now the news along the Texas frontier is of a young general, a self-styled "Napoleon of the West," named Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, who wants to stamp out any gringo talk of independence from Mexico and oust the American interlopers from Texas.

Standing in opposition to Santa Anna is the former governor of Tennessee and veteran of Andrew Jackson’s Indian battles, Sam Houston, who is gathering a volunteer army to meet the Mexican forces.

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Reviews

Media Reviews

"Starred Review.. [A] masterful western storyteller of tales rich with historical detail, vivid characters and sharply defined plots. " - Publishers Weekly.

"One thing is certain: as long as there are writers as skillful as Elmer Kelton, Western literature will never die." - True West Magazine.

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Author Information

Elmer Kelton

Elmer Kelton (1929-2009), a native of Crane, Texas, was an American journalist and writer, known particularly for his Western novels. he was educated at Crane High School and The University of Texas, Austin, earning a B.A. degree in journalism.

Kelton authored at least fifty novels. Three of Kelton's novels have appeared in Reader's Digest Condensed Books. Four books have won the Western Heritage Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame, Oklahoma City.

In 1987 he received the Barbara McCombs/Lon Tinkle Award for "continuing excellence in Texas letters" from the Texas Institute of Letters. In 1990 he received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Western Literature Association. The Texas Legislature proclaimed Elmer Kelton Day in April 1997. In 1998 he received the first Lone Star award for lifetime Achievement from the Larry McMurtry Center for Arts and Humanities at Midwestern State University, Wichita Falls, Texas. He also received honorary doctorates from Hardin-Simmons University and Texas Tech University. He was given a lifetime achievement award by the National Cowboy Symposium in Lubbock, Texas.

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