Call No Man Master Book

This intricately crafted historical novel traces the exploits of Carmen Rangel and her participation in the events that led to Mexico's independence from Spain. After the ideals of the Revolution are betrayed, Carmen takes up arms for Texas independence from Mexico.

Publishers Weekly

A woman of mixed heritage lives through tumultuous times in this romantically conceived historical novel, the debut of Austin, Tex., middle-school principal and short-story writer Jurez. Just prior to 1810 in Spanish-ruled Mexico, Carmen Rangel, at age 16, daughter of a Spanish grandee and an indio mother, meets an idealistic norteamericano, Coalter Owens, and learns that pro-slavery forces in the U.S. are intent on colonizing Mexico's northern province of Texas. Owens is severely wounded during an attack by the Spanish, and, with the help of an African American slave, Carmen is compelled to flee her cloistered life in a household loyal to the king of Spain. This casts her rudely into the turbulence of the Mexican revolution, which ends in 1836, following Santa Anna's siege of the Alamo. During these 20-odd years, Carmen's eyes are opened to the abasement of the poor by the ruling Spanish and, under the influence of crusading Father Miguel Hidalgo and his successor, Father Jos Morelos, she joins the revolution with her handsome norteamericano lover. The narrative covers Carmen's metamorphosis from loyalist to republican as she walks miraculously unscathed through one brush with death after another. With cameo appearances by Jim Bowie, Sam Houston, Davie Crockett, Stephen Austin and William Travisand, despite a curious lack of passion, this is a rather charming, historically based fairy tale. (Apr.)