About the Author

From 1994 to 2004 Kevin Starr served as State Librarian for California. He now teaches at the University of Southern California. His writings have earned him the National Medal of the Arts, the Centennial Medal of the Harvard Graduate School, a Guggenheim Fellowship, and election to the Society of American Historians.

Reviews

“Kevin Starr is one of California’s greatest historians, and California: A History is an invaluable contribution to our state's record and lore.”
–Maria Shriver, First Lady of California

“From Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo to Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Donner Party to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Kevin Starr captures the fullness of California history in one sweeping and masterful narrative. Starr is not only the Golden State’s greatest living chronicler, he is also one of its greatest treasures.”
–Gregory Rodríguez, senior fellow, New America Foundation, and contributing editor, Los Angeles Times

“I am honored to recommend California: A History, this perfect distillation of Kevin Starr’s life’s work. He is California’s most devoted lover and most passionate advocate, our patron saint. He transforms an already fascinating tale and imbues it with ineffable magic and grace.”
–Carolyn See, author of Making a Literary Life

“There is no more knowledgeable or insightful historian of the California dream than Kevin Starr.”
–Richard Rodríguez


“A magisterially authoritative survey of the movements–geological, political, scientific, artistic, and sociological–that have shaped California into the unique state it is today. This engrossing warts-and-all saga is told with a verve and panache that sweep the reader along.”
–Michael York

"Kevin Starr is one of California's greatest historians, and California: A History is an invaluable contribution to our state's record and lore."
-Maria Shriver, First Lady of California

"From Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo to Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Donner Party to the 1992 Los Angeles riots, Kevin Starr captures the fullness of California history in one sweeping and masterful narrative. Starr is not only the Golden State's greatest living chronicler, he is also one of its greatest treasures."
-Gregory Rodriguez, senior fellow, New America Foundation, and contributing editor, Los Angeles Times

"I am honored to recommend California: A History, this perfect distillation of Kevin Starr's life's work. He is California's most devoted lover and most passionate advocate, our patron saint. He transforms an already fascinating tale and imbues it with ineffable magic and grace."
-Carolyn See, author of Making a Literary Life

"There is no more knowledgeable or insightful historian of the California dream than Kevin Starr."
-Richard Rodriguez


"A magisterially authoritative survey of the movements-geological, political, scientific, artistic, and sociological-that have shaped California into the unique state it is today. This engrossing warts-and-all saga is told with a verve and panache that sweep the reader along."
-Michael York