Dallas: A History of "Big D"

Fred Rider Cotten Popular History Series

By: Michael V. Hazel

Narrated by: Charles Henderson Norman

Length: 2 hrs and 5 mins

Publisher's summary

Dallas first grabbed the national imagination in 1936 when it hosted the Texas Centennial Exposition. Since then, the fascination with Big D has seldom flagged. If the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963 cast a pall over the city, the success of the Dallas Cowboys and the popularity of the television series Dallas revived the image of a glitzy, hustling metropolis at the center of the Sunbelt.

In this concise overview, Hazel examines the city's roots as a frontier market town, its development as a regional transportation center, and its growing pains as it entered the 20th century. Ku Klux Klan dominance in the 1920s is chronicled, as well as the half-century of control by an elite group of businessmen. The narrative concludes with a look at today's city, struggling with issues of diversity.

The author pays special attention to the role of ethnic groups in shaping Dallas: the French colonists of the 1850s; the German, Swiss, and Italian immigrants of the 1870s and 1880s; the Mexican Americans of the early-20th century; and the Southeast Asians of recent decades. He also examines the role of African Americans, who came with the first Anglos and struggled for more than a century to gain equality.

Dallas: A History of Big D is based on pioneer letters and reminiscences, as well as the research of recent years. Written in a popular style, it will appeal to scholars and general listeners curious about how Dallas grew to become the nation's eighth largest city.

©1997 Texas State Historical Association (P)2015 Texas State Historical Association

A Wonderful Historic Overview of Dallas Texas

I loved this audiobook for several reasons. Perhaps the main reason is that I'm from the DFW metro and some of the older history I wasn't familiar with. I thoroughly enjoyed having aha moments when I heard things I am familiar with. I liked the part about Elm Street and it's rich history. It's better known as Deep Ellum. Dallas is a beautiful city, especially at night with Reunion Tower.

From listening to this book, I now know where many roads and thoroughfares got their names from. I was also at the 1974 grand opening of DFW Airport which was needed in between two major cities while at the time the main airport was Love Field.

Thank you Michael V. Hazel for writing this awesome book. It really brought back a lot of memories AND it was good. Recommended.

Charles Henderson Norman does a fantastic job narrating this book. He speaks clearly, paces the book perfectly and overall made it a great listen.

"This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."

Interesting

Even though I found this book very dry it was able to provide me with some interesting information that was new to me. But bottom line is I wasn't crazy about it

If you're looking for information on how Dallas was build and receive some informative historical informations about Dallas you might enjoy this audible

This audible was given to me in an exchange for a honest review. I've not been paid in any way for making this review

Nice Survey of a Famous City

If all you know about Dallas came from the television series, you might want to take a look at this short history of the city. Starting with settlement of the area by Americans before the territory became part of the United States, Hazel walks the reader quickly through the development of the town/city—the arrival of different ethnic groups, the rise of the Ku Klux Klan, the domination of the city by elite business men, the shocking assassination of John F. Kennedy, and the struggle to more honestly represent the diverse groups that compose modern Dallas. For a quick survey of a famous American city, this book does a fine job.

Interesting

I enjoyed learning why the streets and buildings are named and the growing pains of Dallas.

Charles Henderson Norman did a good job of narrating.

I was given this free review copy audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

Unbiased, informative and entertaining

Left me feeling a lot better about living in Dallas. From about 1841 to 1995. Now to find something on recent history in Dallas

enjoyable

however, history should not be enjoyable. We all know there is too much of the dark side hidden and ignored. The racial aspects of Dallas's growth were left as minor points in short paragraphs.