This book is about an immigrant group and its assimiliation into California life and society. The many stories told in the book affirm that optimism and hard-work go a long way in a wide-open and prosperous place like California. Most of the people whose stories are told in this book started out with little or nothing, and yet achieved greatness through their own perseverance and boundless energy. The book possesses a rare combination of attributes in that it is both entertaining and inspiring.

Irish Californians: Historic, Benevolent, Romantic

California in the mid-nineteenth century was awash with opportunity. The readily available land and the gold rush were big draws to an immigrant Irish population, often fresh from the coffin ships of the dark famine years. The Eastern seaboard had served them well but did not present many with the opportunity for fame and fortune. So they came west in their hordes. The growth and development of California is inextricably linked to the story of the Irish settlers of those times. The state was in its infancy and the Irish were ideally suited to the frontier environment by dint of their vision and capacity for sheer hard work.

Patrick Dowling's latest offering provides a vivid and exhilarating record of the history of the Irish in California. Included here are accounts of some noteworthy politicos, as one might expect, but also the stories of some of the ordinary Irish men and women who thrived in California. It is this holistic approach which brings Mr. Dowling's book to life. Through his engaging biographies of the personalities of the period, he gives us an informative and accurate picture of the contribution made by the Irish.

We learn of the senators, mayors and judges who ran California and in particular San Francisco, and of the teachers that often were the first to institutionalize education in the state. Also of the entrepreneurs, developers and engineers whose plans and buildings still stand in testament to their endeavors. The soldiers who played such an important role in the formation of modern-day America, and the altruistic Irish men and women who nursed and treated them are also featured. Irish sports stars that are now household names throughout the land are not forgotten. The list goes on. Each chapter deals not only with the actions and achievements of its subject but is also infused with details and clues as to their individual personality, the inherent "Irishness" of the protagonists always to the fore.

Comprehensively researched (over 10 years) and delightfully and lavishly illustrated, it is at times witty, often moving and always enticing. Dowling's style is akin to that of a storyteller. It is littered with skillfully handled twists and hilarious anecdotes. This is enjoyable in the extreme and an absolute requirement for any Irish Californian or anybody for that matter who has the slightest interest in the history of the Irish in America. Patrick Dowling wrote this book, in his own words, "to awaken Irish Americans to their forgotten heritage, both in Ireland and California, and to help inspire a renaissance of Irish history, culture and achievements." He will certainly accomplish this dream.

One of the best journals of the early gold rush that includes a series of letters written by Doble before and during the Civil War. Poor spelling, no punctuation as Doble recorded his day-to-day experiences as a miner. His descriptions of life and times, of bonanza and borrasca, of the wagon trains arriving, and especially his description of his cabin, are classic. I have lived in Volcano, and spent many hours searching out the places described. After reading of his anguish over the death of his good friend, I went to the cemetery and found the tombstone placed there by him.

Living history as many of the places described in the book remain, but written from a perspective long lost.

My father and I got excited when we ran across this book documenting the exploits of John Doble in the gold country of Pine Grove, California.

Doble's Journal documents his search for gold specifically in the Pine Grove, Jackson areas. One could take this journal and retrace Doble's steps to find the best areas to prospect.

I definitly would add this one to my prospecting reference library.

I am a former book editor, and I admire the brilliant integration of illustrations and text on every page spread of these Knopf guides. The San Francisco guide is no exception. The city is covered from every angle, and every angle is done so well.

I love the new Knopf series of travel guides. They are visually strong, easy to use, give great overviews of everything from geography to ancient history to architecture to the standard restaurants, museums and hotels. I highly recommend this guide!

Having read "The Circuit" by the same author, I was eager to read "La Mariposa" to my younger students. Francisco Jimenez creates beautifully written semi-autobiographical stories about life as a child of a family of migrant farmers from Mexico. The the eyes of the main character, Francisco, we experience a child's first day in a new school, where he is the object of stares and, at the hands of a bully, ridicule. However, Francisco is a dreamer, and he conveys his dreams through beautiful pictures of... butterflies. The goodness of his teacher and classmates shine through in the end of this beautiful and sensitive story as they admire his artwork and share in his dream.

The book was written true-to-life and it uses appropriate spelling words for young students and wonderful Spanish words for everyone. Excellent color illustrations. I would recommend this book to an adult or older student so they could read it to a younger child, K through the 4th grade.

Maggie Garrett is a struggling PI in San Francisco. Her best friend keeps trying to set her up with every single woman she knows and her best friend's partner has recommended her to psychologist's attorney. The psychologist is being accused of sleeping with one of her patients. First the attorney hires her, then her father wants to pay to get the information first, then the step-mother wants to pay to get the information first. She agrees to all of them and then the dance begins. Taylor reveals each piece of evidence to the reader as her character finds them. Nothing is what it seems to be. Garrett goes undercover looking for the perpetrator only to find other crimes being committed. Things become even more complicated when murder is committed. Now Garrett is searching for a murderer! Garrett is an interesting and finely drawn character. Her friends are just like yours and mine. If you like mysteries cozy and with a lesbian PI, this is the series for you.

Completely enjoyed The Last of Her Lies. It's a great read and I look forward to reading more of Jean Taylor.

I have read this book and learned about San Francisco politics in a manner that could only be paralleled by an education at San Francisco State University. Highly informative and highly recommended.

If you are at all interested in the new role of cities in the global economy or San Francisco politics, this is the book to have. The most informative book on San Franicisco politics to date. Theoretically sophisticated and a readable case study at the same time

It's hard to believe that San Francisco could be the origin of a majority of the important literary developments of the modern age-yet Mr. Herron has rolled out that ball of yarn for for the interest of tourist AND native to the City."Maltese Falcon" for instance; if you really trek down to the alley you'll be across the street from where Stevenson had his coffee. I freely engineered my ephemeral 1987 "CALIFORNIA STAR" against the template of the book-shoring up perfectly my thesis...Twain and the others were treasure hunters, and recorded the flotsam of their adventuring into Bohemia for the "big" story, as "detective novels." How many know the connections between the women writers and our modern civil liberties? Science fiction or facts? It's all there, and as good a way of seeing this magnificent state as pilgrimaging to the Missions once was popular-take the time to see where our most gifted writers had taken up residence-or went to carouse- and you can "Bogart" some atmosphere!

This book was THE great book for self-guided walking tours of San Francisco. Lost a copy of it myself and would love to find or buy another. This was a wonderful book that always led one to adventures. Why is this out of print?

Nicely written and beautifully illustrated children's fable. Everything you want in a children's book. I'm giving it to my grandaughter!

This book is wonderful! I read it all the time.Why I give this book 5 stars is because this book is really fun to read and I think that children might like this book too.The ant talks about how he might eat it when he is jut so small.

Born in Washington, D.C., to one of the First Families of Virginia, Littleton Q. Washington attended Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, before securing a clerkship at the U.S. Treasury Department. In 1855, he joined the U.S. Customs House in San Francisco and became embroiled in that city's Vigilante Uprising. Dismissed from office during James Buchanan's administration, Washington made a wild and dangerous journey home across Mexico, which was then entering a bloody reform war.
An ardent secessionist, Washington secured a lieutenant's commission in the Confederate Army and served at First Bull Run. He briefly edited the Richmond Examiner before joining the Confederate State Department where he worked with Judah Benjamin for the balance of the war. He knew most of the C.S. government's top people and was a close friend of Mary Chesnut.
This journal is a fascinating character study of one man caught up in the most turbulent period of American history.

Littleton Washington's Journal is the assembled character study of Littleton Q. Washington, an ardent secessionist who served as a lieutenant in the Confederate Army at First Bull Run, and later worked with Judah Benjamin for the balance of the war. Though aptly edited by Douglas Gibboney for reader accessibility, and with informative historical notes, Littleton Washington's Journal is almost entirely Littleton's story in his own words. Highly recommended for Civil War buffs interested in seeing the Civil War from the perspective of one of its many soldiers.

Un libro que tiene la inteligencia de llevarte página a página a ser un enamorado del Señor. Por medio de comic's muy bien ilustrados, Paco nos presenta muchas de las actitudes del cristiano y como éstas nos han llevado a tener una idea erronea del Señor. Simplemente tienes que leerlo para entender de lo que te hablo, Paco refleja su forma de ser (loca y divertida) en un libro que si no lo has comprado, te estás tardando.

Paco es simplemente un chavo enamorado del Señor y lo demuestra en cada uno de sus comic's. Un libro que te contagiará ese amor por el Señor. Página a página serás retado a ser un mejor cristiano y a vivir la vida cristiana con plenitud. Además cabe decir que conocerlo en persona es algo fuera del planeta... Un cristianoide muy fregon¡