Journey to Texas, 1833 by Detlef Dunt (review)

In 1834 Detlef Dunt published his observations of his journey and time spent in North America and Texas. He intended for the book to help guide those Germans who would make their way to Texas. For over 160 years the book remained in Dunt’s native German language. Scholars researching the German immigration story had to make their way through this work relying on their own German language skills. This important work will finally reach a broader audience with this excellent translation into English by Anders Saustrup. Readers can further benefit from James C. Kearney and Geir Bentzen’s wonderful editing and additional analysis found alongside this translation.

Scholars of early German immigration to Texas consider Dunt’s Journey to Texas, 1833 a seminal work. It is important in that it almost immediately followed the 1832 letter written by Friedrich Ernst, whom many consider the father of German migration to central Texas. Ernst’s letter about his new home and life in Industry, Texas, kicked off the large wave of chain migration to this area.

Whereas a letter can only capture a small portion of one’s life and surroundings, an entire travelogue covers more ground; that is what Dunt’s writing did for those reading his work in the mid-1830s. His writings for us today are valuable in that he described Texas on the eve of independence and captured a world that was about to undergo drastic change. His attention to detail is just as captivating to read today as it most assuredly was when first published. He began his record in Oldenburg, his departure point, and then took the reader through New York and on to New Orleans. From there he turned his attention to describing his journey to San Felipe, the core region of early settlements started by the Stephen F. Austin colony. Dunt’s rich description of the area, all the way to the details and merits of Texas-grown corn and other local foods, keeps the reader engaged.

This review would not be complete without a few words on the contributions of Kearney and Bentzen. The introduction to the translation lays a strong context for the book. Those new to German Texas studies or even those familiar with the story will enjoy this opening. Kearney’s closing bibliographical essay of early German literature is a most-hoped-for addition to German immigration studies.

This long-awaited English translation of Dunt’s writings is a major addition to German Texas immigration studies. We can only hope that this publication will be a catalyst for the other works still lingering on shelves in the German tongue to make their way to translators’ desks. There seems to be growing interest again in the Texas Germans, and this translation will serve to strengthen the field.

[Editor’s note: Due to an editing error, the above review appeared in the November 2016 issue with a mistake in the reviewer’s name. It appears here, corrected, with our apologies.]