East Texas is a distinct cultural and geographical region roughly the size of the state of Indiana. It is bounded on the east by the Sabine River and the state line, on the north by the Red River, and on the south by the Gulf of Mexico. The remaining boundary line is open to conjecture but is generally considered to represent the dispersed western limits of the Southern Pine Belt. Those who have lived and worked in East Texas share a common sense of place that has provided some of the state's more colorful characters and most enduring landmarks, as well as a richly-layered cultural...