California Rich: The Lives, the Times, the Scandals, and the Fortunes of the Men & Women Who Made & Kept California's Wealth

by Stephen Birmingham

Overview

Stephen Birmingham explores here the fascinating social history of California, showing how the ruling class of California was born from rough hewn mining communities, and how it evolved a lifestyle that continues to fascinate the world.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493024742
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	08/15/2016
Pages:	318
Sales rank:	1,061,763
Product dimensions:	8.90(w) x 6.00(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Stephen Birmingham is a preeminent social historian, known for his books The Right People, Real Lace, and The Grandees. He allows his reader unparalleled access to the most exclusive society sets, and tells their stories with great warmth and wit.

Table of Contents

Prologue: The Gilded Man 13

Part 1 The Seed Money

Chapter 1 Liquid Gold 21

Chapter 2 Grants and Grabs 31

Chapter 3 The Big Four 50

Chapter 4 How to Buy a King 59

Chapter 5 Chronicle of Power 71

Chapter 6 The Great Museum War 80

Chapter 7 Silver Kings and Other Royalty 94

Chapter 8 Disasters, Natural and Unnatural 106

Part 2 The Easy Spenders

Chapter 9 Throwing It Around 123

Chapter 10 Prince and Pauper 131

Chapter 11 Wedding Bells 136

Chapter 12 Mother and Children 146

Chapter 13 Tempest About a Teapot 156

Chapter 14 Final Curtains 179

Chapter 15 Scandals 185

Part 3 Blood and Water

Chapter 16 J.I.'s Land 199

Chapter 17 Tough Lady 212

Chapter 18 End of the Battle 229

Chapter 19 Overnight Tradition 236

Chapter 20 "Valley People" 245

Chapter 21 O Little Town 260

Chapter 22 Finisterra 271

Postscript: Further On

Chapter 23 The Gilded Nomads 298

Bibliography 301

Index 309

Editorial Reviews

[A] downright intriguing history...chronicling of the creation of the Californian Dream.

|Los Angeles Times

[A] downright intriguing history...chronicling of the creation of the Californian Dream.

Los Angeles Times