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Illustration by Gary Zaboly

Stephen L. Hardin is a professor of history at McMurry University in Abilene, Texas.

Author of numerous award-winning books on Texas history and more than a dozen scholarly articles enjoyed by readers on both sides of the Atlantic.  Texian Iliad, published in 1994, achieved distinction as a “Basic Texas Book” when bibliophile Mike Cox included it in More Basic Texas Books

When not engaged in the classroom, he serves as an on-air commentator, appearing on such varied venues as the A&E Network, the History Channel, and NBC’s TODAY show. Most recently, he appeared on the Fox News series, “Legends & Lies.

Lust for Glory

Recently, Dr. Hardin was in historic Beaumont, Texas, to attend the annual meeting of the Sons of the Republic of Texas. He received that organization’s prestigious Summerfield G. Roberts Award for Lust for Glory: An Epic Story of Early Texas and the Sacrifice that Defined a NationThe award seeks to encourage literary effort and research about historical events and personalities during the days of the Republic of Texas, 1836-1846, and to stimulate interest in this period. 

Lust for Glory was also a named as one of the finalists for the Western Writers of America 2019 Spur Awards.

Distinguished for his readable style and accessible approach to history, Dr. Hardin is an inductee of the Texas Institute of Letters, an admiral in the Texas Navy, a member of Western Writers of America, a Life Member and Fellow of the Texas State Historical Association, and acted as historical advisor for the John Lee Hancock film “The Alamo” (2004).