Emily D. West and the Yellow Rose of Texas Myth - by Phillip Thomas Tucker (Paperback)

About the Book

For the first time, the real story of "The Yellow Rose of Texas" is told in full, revealing a host of new insights and perspectives on one of America's most popular stories. For generations, the Yellow Rose of Texas has been one of America's most popular western myths, growing larger over time to eventually little resemble the truth of what really happened on decisive April 21, 1836, at the battle of San Jacinto, where a new Texas Republic won its independence. The real Yellow Rose was an ordinary but also quite remarkable free black woman from the North, Emily D. West. This is the first full-length biography of her--which explores the evolution of one of the most popular myths in American, Texas and western history.

Book Synopsis

For the first time, the true story of "The Yellow Rose of Texas" is told in full, revealing a host of new insights and perspectives on one of America's most popular stories. For generations, the Yellow Rose of Texas has been one of America's most popular western myths, growing larger over time and little resembling the truth of what happened on April 21, 1836, at the battle of San Jacinto, where a new Texas Republic won its independence. The woman who has been popularly connected to the story was an ordinary but also quite remarkable free black woman from the North, Emily D. West. This work reconstructs her experience, places it in full context and explores the evolution of a most fanciful myth.

Review Quotes

"the book is successful at describing the world West lived in as well as the dangers she faced in Texas. Recommended"--Choice; "traces her entire life"--ProtoView.

About the Author

Phillip Thomas Tucker is a former Department of Defense historian in Washington, D.C. He lives in Davenport, Florida.