San Francisco: A Cultural and Literary History

For readers who are more inclined to visit literary haunts and modern art enclaves than seek out trendy hotels and slick clubs, this latest entry to the Cities of the Imagination series delivers a great read. Sinclair, who has authored numerous California guidebooks, presents an amalgam of history and up-to-the-minute reporting, all concerning San Francisco's literary, popular, social and cultural evolution. The first chapter, on navigating the city, is the most practical, explaining the metropolis's geographical layout. From there, Sinclair goes on to recount the discovery of gold in the state in 1848, which""triggered the biggest population movement the world had ever seen to a place... very few had previously heard of."" The book covers much of the city's historical record, as it documents the rise and fall of various San Francisco leaders, architecture styles, political movements and more. Sinclair's volume creates an alluring portrait of a vibrant city, one that is certain to spur curious readers to seek out little-known attractions (such as Japantown) and view well-known ones (such as the Golden Gate Bridge) with a fresh eye. Map, illus.