The Austin family left an indelible mark on Texas and the expanding American nation. In this insightful biography, Light Townsend Cummins turns the historical spotlight on Emily Austin, the daughter who followed the trails of the western frontier to Texas, where she saw the burgeoning young colony erupt in revolution, establish a proud republic, and usher in the period of antebellum statehood. Emily's journey was one of remarkable personal change as the rigors of frontier life shaped her into a uniquely self-reliant southern woman, one who fulfilled the role of the plantation mistress while taking a distinct hand in ambitious public ventures. Despite her ties to influential family members, including her brother Stephen F. Austin, Emily's determined spirit allowed her to live on her own terms. In all of her notable activities, Emily principally remained a devoted daughter, sister, wife, and mother who proudly clung to her Austin roots. Utilizing her family's written correspondence, Cummins provides insight into Emily's multifaceted personality and the relationships that sustained her through times of tribulation and triumph. "Emily was very much her own woman, with strong, well-articulated personal feelings centered on a steely personality. Her rock-solid resolve for action enabled her to survive almost six decades of frontier hardship . . . Above all else, Emily Austin was the touchstone at the center of an extended family that provided a common point of reference for four generations . . . " Light Cummins, from Emily Austin

Author: Light Townsend Cummins
Binding Type: Hardcover
Publisher: Texas Christian University Press
Published: 04/28/2009
Series: Texas Biography (Hardcover) #1
Pages: 224
Weight: 1.27lbs
Size: 9.28h x 6.28w x 0.95d
ISBN: 9780875653518
First Edition, Edition


Review Citation(s):
Chronicle of Higher Education 05/29/2009 pg. 17

About the Author
Light Townsend Cummins is the Guy M. Bryan Jr. Professor of History at Austin College. A native of San Antonio, he is the author or editor of seven books dealing with the history of Texas and the Gulf Coast, including A Guide to the History of Texas, A Guide to the History of Louisiana, and Spanish Observers and the American Revolution.