Texas Victory

By Denzel Holmes & Tom Schliesing

ISBN 1-932196-09-9

Wordwright.biz

Georgetown, Texas

2003, Trade Paper,

344 pages, $21.95

When it is reported that he is killed in battle, Prince Carl Von Altman is deposed in favor of his brother.  Prince Carl is determined to regain his life and position.  Even as he begins to realize the conspiracy against him, he also begins to understand the plight of the people of his Principality.  Life is hard in the Palatine, and large numbers of people gather around the deposed prince, even master craftsmen and professional men.  They want to leave, to emigrate to the Republic of Texas and establish a colony, and they want Prince Carl to lead them.

            When Carl's son Hans dies, he takes with him Prince Carl's real reason to fight to regain his throne.  Finally, he agrees to lead the colony to Texas if he can force his brother and the rest of the government to help pay the expenses.

            This wonderful story of the adventures of Prince Carl Von Altman, his family and his little band of German colonists introduces the reader to a little known part of the history of Texas and of Western America.  The reader follows Carl and the settlers as they leave old Europe and experience the trials and pain of the long sea voyage to their new life.  The exhausted and fearful settlers travel overland from their landing to settle near the New Braunfels community.  The story also follows the changes these experiences make in the character of Prince Carl.  The authors developed this character's life story so well that the reader sees Prince Carl von Altman as a real, universal and fascinating human being. 

Denzel Holmes and Tom Schliesing have created a gripping and epic story of love and fear, opulence and privation, peace and strife.  Texas Victory thrills the reader as it makes Texas history come to life. 

A.H.Holt, editor

WesternFictionReview

June 2004