Complete Works of Brann, The Iconoclast, Volume 12

history, news, politics, religion, spirituality · EN

William Cowper Brann, aptly nicknamed The Iconoclast, boldly challenged the status quo, targeting institutions and beliefs he deemed arrogant and self-serving. Settling in the rugged town of Waco, Texas, during the late 1800s, Brann made his mark as a newspaper man—first as a writer and later as the owner of The Iconoclast newspaper. This tumultuous period saw fierce battles between Catholics and Protestants over Texass soul, with further sectarian conflicts among Protestants. Branns prolific writing style and unapologetic opinions made waves, as he fiercely criticized Baptists, Prohibition, and universities with the ferocity of a gunfight—an irony not lost on history, as he met his own demise in a shootout at the age of 43. After being shot in the back, he managed to draw his weapon and kill his assailant, before walking himself to jail, where he ultimately died the next morning. Volume 12 features a collection of his thought-provoking newspaper editorials, reflections on his untimely