Oscar Lewis sets his first novel in mid-1850s San Francisco. An “authorized biography” of a California entrepreneur has just been published, but James Horton is scarcely recognizable to those who knew him. Walter Doane, novelist and longtime friend of the Horton family, is persuaded to set down his own reminiscences of the irascible Horton and, most notably, Christine Winton, Horton’s mistress. It is from Doane’s perspective that this fascinating story unfolds. Lewis’s charming novel brings to life the lore of the families and of the city of San Francisco from the middle 1850s to the 1940s. The book won the California Commonwealth Club's gold medal and is one of the most highly regarded San Francisco novels. Foreword by Lawrence Clark Powell. Vintage West Series
