The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 72, July 1968 - April, 1969 Page: 127

Book Notes

Each document is presented in an attractive format consisting of
(1) a brief essay in Spanish establishing the historical significance of
the document, accompanied by a significant scene from a book or print
of the period, both on the first page of each lesson; (2) a facsimile
reproduction of the document itself, on the following page; (3) a copy
in print of the text of the document with explanatory footnotes, on
page three; and (4) a Spanish-English vocabulary, a series of questions
for classroom conversation, various types of vocabulary drills, and some
suggested topics for discussion or composition.
The entire text, including instructions to the students, is in Spanish,
enabling the teacher to conduct the entire class and discussion without
recourse to English. The documents are printed on paper of good quality
in a large format (9 x 12 inches), spiral bound so that the lesson based
on each document can be distributed separately to the students.
The book represents an admirable first step in the direction of making
available meaningful interdisciplinary material for high school students.
Documentos Tejanos in fact goes beyond the immediate goal of relating
the study of Spanish to an acquaintance with Texas history; it en-
courages in the student an understanding of the state's bicultural tradi-
tion that must be considered an additional benefit.
In spite of its admirable conception, Documentos Tejanos has flaws that
one hopes would be eliminated in a subsequent edition. The booklet
should be provided with a printed cover, rather than the blank colored
cardboard which now encloses it. Each unit-the material relating to
each separate document-lacks pagination. More significant is the need
for strict editing of the Spanish in the explanatory essays, in order to
eliminate the presently existing anglicisms, infelicities of Spanish style,
and even occasional errors of grammar.
University of Texas at Austin GEORGE W. AYER
Santa Anna's Campaign Against Texas, 1835-1836. By Richard G. Santos.
Waco (Texian Press), 1968. Pp. xv + 172. Illustrations, maps, index.
$8.95.
In this book Richard G. Santos, archivist of Bexar County, and the
Texian Press of Waco have added to the historical coverage of Texas an
excellently edited, designed, and printed book. It is another in a growing
list of distinguished publications about Texas by this relatively young
press.
Santa Anna's Campaign Against Texas is presented in the form of
translations of his "Orderbook" of field commands as issued from the
opening of hostilities until just before the battle of San Jacinto. There
is an opening chapter which establishes an historical setting for the orders
as a whole-followed by the orders in sequence with an explanation and
commentary following each.
The conception and execution of the work is outstanding, and as the
reader advances through the orders and the commentaries on them, he

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