The Gates of the Alamo

By: Stephen Harrigan

Narrated by: George Guidall

Length: 24 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's summary

Best-selling author Stephen Harrigan brings one of the pivotal battles in American history to life in this fiery, unforgettable novel. Meticulously researched and overflowing with fascinating characters, The Gates of the Alamo is an experience history buffs and fiction fans will equally enjoy. Edmund McGowan is a gifted naturalist whose life’s work is threatened by war. Mary Mott is a widowed innkeeper forced to rely on her own resources for survival. Mary’s 16-year-old son, Terrell, is a young man about to experience his first taste of love. Focusing on these three characters - and sprinkling in real-life figures such as James Bowie and Davy Crockett - Harrigan gives a human face to a true American legend. Told from the perspective of the Mexican attackers as well as the American defenders, this New York Times best seller vividly recreates a time and a place where honor and gallant death shaped generations of people. George Guidall’s narration captures all the drama of ordinary people living through extraordinary events.

©2000 Stephen Harrigan (P)2001 Recorded Books

I’ve visited the Alamo during the reading of this book because I became so interested.

I love historical fiction and this was a true winner in every respect. I also adored George Guidell and he was, as always, magnificent in his performance. It could be argued that reality is stretched by the use of various narrators who magically appear in the thick of the most important historical events surrounding the Battles for Texas independence as portrayed here, but setting that aside, it is always enjoyable to have a front row seat at such goings-on. Character development was excellent, perhaps especially of the fictional characters who formed the nucleus of the story. I highly recommend this book.

Brilliant!

Terrific story with Incredibly rich characters ! Hats off to Stephen Harrigan. I was almost sad that the book was over. Excellently performed.

The Best

This book was so well written and narrated that you feel like you are there in the midst of the story. I’ve been to the Alamo once, but now I want to return. ❤️

A great read

Another Alamo Classic, a great read for history lovers. For the everyday Texas history buff.

An interesting take

Overall I thought this book was pretty good. It had some perspectives I had not considered before and was told most eloquently. There were times when it seemed to drag a bit, but when the action started it didn't relent. Good book overall

Well worth the time

I used to not be much of a fan of fiction, but this novel helped pull me into becoming a fan of historical fiction. Harriman had to have done massive amounts of research to pull of this story. His fictional characters are all interesting, and I enjoyed that he wrote the heroes of the Alamo as real men rather than make them into the mythical gods than many try to.

Guidall is probably my favorite or second favorite narrator as well. He’s so easy to listen to and gives a strong performance with character voices as we’ll

Could have been shorter, but still a good story

This would have rated "riveting", if it was maybe two downloads instead of three. Good characters; interesting to have "real" ones, such as Bowie and Santa Anna. Bogged down at times; some scenes were just longer than they needed to be. Still a good enough story to stick with it, and George Guidall's narration was great, as usual.

A masterclass of narration

This book by itself is amazing. Amazing characters, historical and fictional, dialogue, verbiage, plot development, etc. However, George Guidall displays a performance that should be studied by all future voice actors. He is passionate, changes voices and tone when appropriate, and actually makes the listener believe that the voice resembled in the dialogue is his. Simply F'n amazing.

Revisionist Bias by the Author

You can hear the revisionist history from this author especially concerning Bowie. Really harps on the bad side of Bowie and very little on the good side of this hero of Texas. Gotta really have some hate to harp on that.

Good novel based on reliable research of the Alamo

I enjoyed listening to this lengthy account of the battle for the Alamo. Well researched history and well read narrative.