Submitted Photo.
DuAnne Redus’ ancestor, H. H. McConnell.
Local author DuAnne Redus weaves a contemporary narrative through a series of heartfelt letters to her ancestor, H. H. McConnell, in response to his classic publication, “Five Years a Cavalryman,” written more than 140 years ago.
In her newly released book, Redus reflects on her great-great-grandfather’s encounters during Texas’ frontier era and her own experiences as a fifth-generation Texan. The volume is called, “A Family Legacy Reimagined: Descendant DuAnne Redus Revives and Responds to a Texas Frontier Classic.”
Redus’ writing bridges centuries of Texan identity — its myths, resilience and reckoning. Her braided reflections from “Then and Now” reveal the complex, often contradictory legacy of a land both glamorized and misunderstood. In it she explores the parallels between the rugged Reconstruction period and the state’s modern-day challenges.
“My great-great-grandfather’s book, filled with amazing descriptions and observations of the early days of the Texas frontier, has broadened understanding of his times,” Redus says. “His book is reproduced in full in this new volume, and I’ve added observations that compare his time with our lives today.”
“His time and mine are vastly different,” Redus says, “but his profound insight into his world, written so beautifully, has helped me to discover insights of my own life on the planet and its future.”
“Now, not only has McConnell descendent DuAnne Redus brought this excellent frontier era resource back, thanks to a treasure trove of inherited family papers, she’s engagingly told more of the McConnell clan’s story. A must-buy forTexas history buffs,” says Mike Cox, Writer, Speaker, Consultant and Member of the Texas Institute of Letters.
Praise for the book also comes from Allen Lee Hamilton of the Texas State Historical Association. “There is no better overall description of frontier military life in Texas during the 1860s and 1870s than this.” Dr. Hamilton has been teaching at the college level for 42 years, is the author of six books and the recipient of multiple awards.
Wimberley resident DuAnne Redus is a lifelong learner, mentor, guide and author. Her most recent book is “Shaping Your Future with 6 Dimensions of Success: A roadmap for self-leadership in life and work.” With degrees in psychology, business and organizational behavior, she continues to explore possibilities for the future in all aspects of life.
To learn more, contact [email protected]
