San Francisco in the 1930s

The WPA Guide to the City by the Bay

Federal Writers Project of the Works Progress Administration author David Kipen editor

Format:Paperback

Publisher:University of California Press

Published:18th Mar '11

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

San Francisco in the 1930s cover

'San Francisco has no single landmark by which the world may identify it,' according to "San Francisco in the 1930s," originally published in 1940. This would surely come as a surprise to the millions who know and love the Golden Gate Bridge or recognize the Transamerica Building's pyramid. This invaluable Depression-era guide to San Francisco relates the city's history from the vantage point of the 1930s, describing its culture and highlighting the important tourist attractions of the time. David Kipen's lively introduction revisits the city's literary heritage - from Bret Harte to Kenneth Rexroth, Jade Snow Wong, and Allen Ginsberg - as well as its most famous landmarks and historic buildings. This rich and evocative volume, resonant with portraits of neighborhoods and districts, allows us a unique opportunity to travel back in time and savor the City by the Bay as it used to be.

"Perhaps the finest single volume on these 47 square miles." San Francisco Chronicle "Stylish paperbacks" T Magazine - The New York Times "Reading both is like finding hidden treasures. The San Francisco edition is a must have for anyone interested in the city... The San Francisco and Los Angeles guidebooks offer both traditional tours of the city as well as historical writing more closely akin to poetry. These are books that people can read aloud to one another." Beyondchron "More than just a tool to help you find the nearest Presbyterian church or a convenient tennis court, the guides, part of the Depression-era Federal Writers Project, included thoughtful essays on history, life and culture in each destination, as well as blow-by-blow tours through city neighborhoods and other information that in many cases remains at least partially relevant (or interesting) today." New York Post "A useful book as well as an important historical volume." Foreword "A fascinating book." -- Robert Walch Salinas Californian

ISBN: 9780520268807

Dimensions: 210mm x 140mm x 38mm

Weight: 726g

560 pages