Denton: University of North Texas Press, 1998. 1^st edition. 120 pages. Hardcover with dustjacket; both in FINE condition.

In the August 1981 issue of Texas Monthly, Greene first submitted his list of what he thought were the “fifty best Texas books”. Whether he specifically intended to provoke or not, he did. Larry McMurtry wrote an essay, “Ever a Bridegroom: Reflections on the Failure of Texas Literature”, the purpose of which, at least in part, was to dispute Greene’s contention that fifty good Texas books did, in fact, exist. With all due respect to McMurtry—whose work was included in the original list—there WERE fifty good books on Texas. In fact, there were MORE than fifty making a compilation of fifty plus necessary. Some books in the original fifty were dropped but others were added. And yes, McMurtry’s books grace the expanded list. You may not agree with every selection but then again, everyone will agree with some selections. Find out what they are and read ‘em all. It might not make you a Texan but you’ll know enough to act like it. And get away with it. For people born elsewhere, that makes a nice consolation prize!