San Francisco in Color

Fülszöveg

SAN FRANCISCO IN COLOR
Text by T. H. WATKINS
The epitome of frontier America in
its urban phase, San Francisco also has
exhibited the same kind of attraction as
that of venerable European capitals, a
paradox that is here spelled out in
narrative commentary and 32 full-page
photographs in four colors, with accom-
panying page-long legends. The city's
appeal to tourists has existed almost
from its birth, and since the Gold Rush
of 1849 it has entertained swarms of
them. Originally a tiny village started
by an English trader and known as
Yerba Buena, it became San Fran-
cisco after the United States assumed
sovereignty over California. When
Rudyard Kipling visited the city in
1889, at the height of its lusty vigor, he
pronounced it "a mad city—inhabited
for the most part by perfectly insane
people". Such a description no doubt
would have been apt in 1849, when the
discovery of gold had turned it into
a tent-and-shack nightmare, crawling
with wild-eyed... Tovább

Fülszöveg

SAN FRANCISCO IN COLOR
Text by T. H. WATKINS
The epitome of frontier America in
its urban phase, San Francisco also has
exhibited the same kind of attraction as
that of venerable European capitals, a
paradox that is here spelled out in
narrative commentary and 32 full-page
photographs in four colors, with accom-
panying page-long legends. The city's
appeal to tourists has existed almost
from its birth, and since the Gold Rush
of 1849 it has entertained swarms of
them. Originally a tiny village started
by an English trader and known as
Yerba Buena, it became San Fran-
cisco after the United States assumed
sovereignty over California. When
Rudyard Kipling visited the city in
1889, at the height of its lusty vigor, he
pronounced it "a mad city—inhabited
for the most part by perfectly insane
people". Such a description no doubt
would have been apt in 1849, when the
discovery of gold had turned it into
a tent-and-shack nightmare, crawling
with wild-eyed treasure seekers from
the world over. Its notorious Barbary
Coast and infamous Tenderloin, even
today's invasion by "hippies", all have
contributed to its far-out reputation.
Nevertheless, it is a city of culture and
beauty, of hills and wind and water, of
style and . grace and color. No matter
where he lives, San Francisco has to be
every American's second city.
Tom Watkins has told its story with
verve and wit, his text being superbly
illustrated by the breathtaking color
photos. Together, they make a mem-
orable portrait of a great American city. Vissza