Art of the State: California the Spirit of America, State By State

Rating:
Summary: Brief, beautiful and witty
Review: I bought this for someone out of state, and found myself reluctant to let go of it. The people who appear in it are not the usual dull crew (i.e., Walt Disney), but folks like Harry Bridges and Emperor Norton, Ina Coolbrith and Dashiell Hammett. The prints reproduced in it are of excellent quality, from fruit-crate labels to bits of Diego Rivera murals. Instead of chattering endlessly about Hollywood, there's an entry on live theater in Los Angeles (the Mark Taper), San Francisco (the Mime Troupe) and the Teatro Campesino in San Juan Bautista. The slightly raunchy doggerel of the gold rush is a nice touch, and the author knows that the name California came from the Spanish novel of chivalry owned by Don Quijote, Las Sergas de Esplandian. And it's even spelled right - what a pleasant surprise! This little book is is a splendid introduction to California's richness