This biography of Sam Houston goes beyond the romantic frontier life of the "buckskin hero from Tennessee" to examine seriously his role as an American statesman. Rarely does a book appear concerning a period so remote that should correct so much current error. ― New York Times Finally, let it be emphasized that Sam Houston—the national statesman, the skilled politician, the ever-so-human and many-sided man—walks and talks, man-like, in this biography. ― American Historical Review This biography, the most nearly definitive that has yet appeared, suggests that Sam Houston must be numbered with the great. ― Southwestern Historical Quarterly Rarely does a book appear concerning a period so remote that should correct so much current error. ― New York Times Finally, let it be emphasized that Sam Houston—the national statesman, the skilled politician, the ever-so-human and many-sided man—walks and talks, man-like, in this biography. ― American Historical Review This biography, the most nearly definitive that has yet appeared, suggests that Sam Houston must be numbered with the great. ― Southwestern Historical Quarterly Llerena B. Friend (1903–1995) was a historian and teacher.