03.11.04 Nardini, Louis R., No Man’s Land: A History of El Camino Real, published in 1999.
Our Review:
The book is essentially about the territory west of the Red River and east of the Sabine river, which did not become part of Louisiana until the Adams/Onis Treaty and which did not come under the effective United States control until about 1826, if then. RP
Further review by the publisher is helpful:
To people in Spain the words el camino real mean the road to the king. In America the El Camino Real was an important road that began in Mexico City, where the king’s representative would be, and ended at the north end of Front Street in Natchitoches, Louisiana. Over the years the road, originally pounded into existence by herds of travelling buffalo, has also been known as the Royal Road, the King’s Highway, the Contraband Trail, the Old San Antonio Trace, the Old Texas Trail, and Louisiana Highways Six and Twenty-one. A road with so many names must necessarily have an exciting history. This is the record of it. Mr. Nardini’s book gives the account of this unique road in a very readable and interesting way. Along with important names and dates, he includes the human interest of social and cultural factors. Readers will discover the adventures that took place on the Southland’s busiest highway, which served the outlaw, the murderer, the slave trader, and the priest. The state of Texas was actually established as a result of the independent spirit of the settlers along the El Camino Real and their desire for freedom.
Availability of this Book
This book is available as an e-book or a print book. We suggest Amazon or Google books.
RP, HRW
