J. Frank Dobie (1888–1964)

A decent enough recapitulation of various “buried treasure” and mine legends from around the state of Texas. Such stories don’t really interest me, so I was mostly bored, though some managed to almost be told like a ghost story, which was somewhat gripping. Introduced and edited (and commented) by legendary Texas writer J. Frank Dobie, who was noted for his liberalism and progressivism on so much, especially on racial issues, it was jarring to read the casual racism doled out about Mexican Texans and Black Texans, by both the contributors and Dobie himself. This edition is a reprint by a small outfit from Louisiana, and there are numerous typos and odd formatting, and cross-references to page numbers are unchanged from the original 1920s edition of this volume, which is sadly laughable. Still, a decent account of some Texas folklore.… (more)

Frank Dobie describes how the history of a state and a culture was defined by a sturdy breed of cattle who could be raised on little and tolerate being driven for miles Topics covered included history, microevolution, branding, mavericks, milling, stampedes, rawhide, horns, lead oxen, sex differences, and hunting outlaw cattle in brush country. I came away with enormous respect for cattle and men, admiring their toughness, shrugging off the cruelty. I will say this, even if I sound silly. I remember this book as a taste, a taste much like chili.… (more)