Massacre at Goliad

Buckalew Family #1

by Elmer Kelton

After learning of the defeat at the Alamo, the Buckalew brothers, Josh and Thomas, and the rest of the garrison at Goliad are determined to defeat Santa Anna and his forces. Reprint.

Genres: Westerns, Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical

210 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1965

About the author

Elmer Kelton (1926-2009) was award-winning author of more than forty novels, including The Time It Never Rained, Other Men’s Horses, Texas Standoff and Hard Trail to Follow. He grew up on a ranch near Crane, Texas, and earned a journalism degree from the University of Texas. His first novel, Hot Iron, was published in 1956. Among his awards have been seven Spurs from Western Writers of America and four Western Heritage awards from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. His novel The Good Old Boys was made into a television film starring Tommy Lee Jones. In addition to his novels, Kelton worked as an agricultural journalist for 42 years. He served in the infantry in World War II. He died in 2009.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/elmerk...

Reviews

[Bill Riggs · Rating 5 out of 5]

Two brothers from Tennessee, looking for a better life and better opportunities, head to Texas and become caught up in the Texians’ fight for independence. Historically accurate and factually correct, it is an engaging story that shows the human side and the struggles of the individuals. Everyone knows what happened at the Alamo, and to a lesser extent at the Massacre at Goliad, but this story sheds light on how these events and others tore apart the people and the land.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Briskly written and involving short novel about a pair of brothers from Tennessee who move to Texas in the 1830s and are gradually swept up and pulled apart by the drift toward revolution. Kelton works a lot of richness and complexity into his picture of this time and place, especially with regard to the relationship between the native Tejanos and recent Anglo arrivals from the US. The story is also interesting in keeping most of the action away from the Alamo and focusing on other events like the failed Texian raid on Matamoros, the titular massacre at Goliad, and the final victory at San Jacinto. My only complaint is that the conclusion felt a bit rushed.

I plan to recommend this to students who might not be inclined to pick up non-fiction but want a glimpse of the politically, culturally, and socially complex world of Texas and the Texas Revolution.

Highly recommended.

[Buck Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best westerns I have read in a long time. Kelton gives you believable characters that keep your attention using the first person narrative. The story line takes you from Tennessee to Texas, and all the pitfalls and social dilemmas that accompany the clashing of very different cultures in the 1830's. Kelton's description of the massacre at Goliad was riveting as well as the aftermath. A great fast read.

[Barbara Maddox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was reluctant to read this book, as it is based on historical events. I was concerned it might be too dry. However, I like Elmer Kelton as a writer, so I gave it a try. I am very glad I did. It brought to life a very little known (outside of Texas, I guess) bit of history and turned it into a very fine, although very tragic war novel.

[Miles Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable short Western. Kelton has modest ambitions for this book but it succeeds. Just good ole fashioned fun set during the Texian Revolution. There's nothing earth-shattering here, but there is also little criticize.

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the first Elmer Kelton book that I read, and I really liked his writing. There was a point or two where I felt a bit annoyed at the main character, but that's just part of Kelton's story writing. He actually gets you involved in liking and wishing the best for the characters.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

good read and good extension of previous story lines

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

pretty good western

[Paulette · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mistakenly read book 2 before book 1, so it was a pleasure to learn more background of the characters and the history of Texas.

[Shelly Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son and I listened to the audiobook while driving to school each morning. He claims that he passed his 7th grade Texas History test in part because of this book. We both enjoyed this fiction story of Thomas and Josh Buckalew coming to Texas, building a life and taking part in the Texas revolution. It allowed history to "come alive" and help us imagine/understand the nuances and relationships of things that are often a passing sentence between events. It brought to life the various characters (not always stereotyped) of those in Texas at the time and look at events from a personal perspective.

[Jeff Tankersley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Massacre at Goliad, Elmer Kelton (western, historical fiction)
Jeff Book Review #182

An old Kelton western, 1965's "Massacre at Goliad" is set during the 1836 Texas Revolution. The fictional Buckalew brothers have settled in then-Mexican Texas and come into a tense relationship with neighbors in the area before that war starts and they get pulled into it.

The true historical event that the story takes place around is the Goliad Massacre, in which 400 Texans surrendered a fort (rather than fight to the death like others did at the Alamo a few weeks prior) and those 400 Goliad prisoners were then murdered by their captors after being promised freedom in exchange for their surrender.

Verdict: Kelton uses some common western tropes in his depiction of protagonist Josh Buckalew and is a little cringey at times but "Massacre at Goliad" is a good read. It is quite short (160 page paperback) and might actually make a good junior high American History read for its treatment of the historical setting and spirit.

Jeff's Rating: 4 / 5 (Very Good)
movie rating if made into a movie: PG

[Patrick SG · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whenever I'm in the mood for a western with wide-open spaces and traditional values, I know I can find them in the pages of the late, great writer Elmer Kelton. He grew up on a cattle ranch in Texas and became a journalist for a range publication before taking up writing fiction.

This volume - as with a number of his books - places a fictional character within an historical setting. In this case it's the birth of the Republic of Texas. Tennessee brother migrate from home and set up a homestead on the Texas frontier. Along the way they endure a number of run ins with both nature and man that test their fortitude and character. The second half of the book deals with the beginnings of conflict between the Mexican leader Santa Ana and the increasing number of Americans pouring into Austin's colony of Texas. The title gives more than a hint of what is to come for the protagonists, with stops along the way to visit the Alamo and interact with various characters, both famous and not so.

Reading the book - now 50 years old - makes you realize how many of the issues from 1830s Texas are still with us today. Distrust between different cultures, immigration and how some overcome those issues while others are made bitter by them, are all themes of this very entertaining book.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I selected this audiobook from the city library. I needed a good book to listen to on the nine-hour drive to my mother's house. It looks like the library has all of the audiobooks by this author.

It's not the deepest book I've ever read. I have the feeling, too, that the author used both the legends and the facts dealing with this particular time of Texas history. To be honest, I really didn't remember much about Goliad from Texas history--it's been almost four decades since I had to study Texas history.

At first I was dissatisfied by the long character development and exposition. Then I got into Mulie (sp?) and Hickory. I found myself worrying about the characters. I worried aobut them. And I enjoyed the book.

The audiobook had an excellent narrator. I want to check out more of these audiobooks and I've already told my Texas-loving friends to check out this series.

[SamT · Rating 3 out of 5]

Many readers know about the Alamo and its place in Texas history but fewer know about slaughter of Texas revolutionaries in the town of Goliad shortly after the fall of the Alamo.
This is the story of two brothers, Josh and Thomas Buckalew, who leave Tennessee to claim land in Stephen F. Austin's colony in Texas. As the strained relations between the Mexican government and the Texians in the colonies turn into revolution the brothers wind up at Goliad fighting Santa Anna's soldiers.
Author Elmer Kelton's fiction is always historically accurate and Massacre At Goliad is no exception. This fast moving story is a good account of the perils the residents of Texas suffered in the 1830's.

[Nathan Beck · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book with lots of true Texas history blended into a fictional (but very possible) story. Truly enjoyed it and could not put it down. There are "sequels" to this story, so I will try to find them now.

[Jo Klemm]

I'm in heaven! I haven't read a western in so long! I love Elmer Kelton!

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid western set during Texas's war for independence from Mexico. The novel takes its time getting there, but the result is more vivid and realistic characters, so it's all good.

[Stan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent read, enjoyable historical western written by a veteran author.

[Kraig Kinnamon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this author! Going to stick with him.

[David Brimer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another fantastic book from the John Ford of the western novel.