Now's the Day and Now's the Hour

This is a noteworthy contribution to the history of the Alamo, the people of Scotland and the powerful American folk music that evolved from the melding of the two. Carl Peterson writes in an easy, conversational manner based on thorough research about the forces that brought the Scots to the New World and shaped their contributions to the growth of the United States. A surprising number of influential Americans were of Scottish ancestry and as a group maintained their cultural identity through language and folk memory. The heroism of William Wallace and King Robert Bruce echoed in the Texian revolt against European tyranny. The story of the war for Texas independence is also described in the lyrics and music of the time and the CD to which this book is companion (Scotland Remembers the Alamo) is not only sheer good listening but fascinating it its historic documentation. This is a fantastic little book that packs a punch which belies its size! It was impossible to put down once started. Once again, the contribution of the Scot to the founding of this country is shown without any "soap-box" rhetoric. Carl Peterson's character studies of the Scottish Alamo defenders are skillfully drawn, and bring out hitherto unknown, to me, details about the heroes. The lyrics at the end of the book only add to the otherwise completeness of the volume. This is a "must have" for all lovers of history, Texas history, and Scottish history. This is one of the best short histories of this period of Texas history Peterson has incorporated the accuracy of a historian with the "tied-togetherness" of a novelist to make a very easy and informative read. He broad jumps the endless minutia of the day and homes-in on the major points. He has created a real & serious snapshot of one of the major events in the forming of our national heritage.