California - A History
Note: This is an advanced level book meant for the adult reader
“A California classic . . . California, it should be remembered, was very much the wild west, having to wait until 1850 before it could force its way into statehood. so what tamed it? Mr. Starr’s answer is a combination of great men, great ideas and great projects.”—The Economist
From the age of exploration to the age of Arnold, the Golden State’s premier historian distills the entire sweep of California’s history into one splendid volume. Kevin Starr covers it all: Spain’s conquest of the native peoples of California in the early sixteenth century and the chain of missions that helped that country exert control over the upper part of the territory; the discovery of gold in January 1848; the incredible wealth of the Big Four railroad tycoons; the devastating San Francisco earthquake of 1906; the emergence of Hollywood as the world’s entertainment capital and of Silicon Valley as the center of high-tech research and development; the role of labor, both organized and migrant, in key industries from agriculture to aerospace. In a rapid-fire epic of discovery, innovation, catastrophe, and triumph, Starr gathers together everything that is most important, most fascinating, and most revealing about our greatest state.
Praise for California
“[A] fast-paced and wide-ranging history . . . [Starr] accomplishes the feat with skill, grace and verve.”—Los Angeles Times Book Review
“Kevin Starr is one of california’s greatest historians, and California is an invaluable contribution to our state’s record and lore.”—MarIa Shriver, journalist and former First Lady of California
“A breeze to read.”—San Francisco
About OLP Selects for Adults
There's nothing like teaching history to wet your own appetite for a deeper study of the subject. We're offering a selection of history books aimed at adults that you're sure to find interesting and informative. Great for personal study or as a backup to the information in our Teacher's Manuals.
About the Author
Kevin Starr (1940 – 2017) was an American historian and California’s State Librarian, best know for his multi-volume series on the history of California. His writing won a Guggenheim Fellowship, and gold and silver medals from the Commonwealth Club of California. His books include Americans and the California Dream, 1850–1915; California: A History; and Golden Gate: The Life and Times of America’s Greatest Bridge.
Product Details
Paperback | $18.00 | Published by Modern Library
Mar 13, 2007 | 416 Pages | 5-3/16 x 8 | ISBN 9780812977530
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