About the Author

Ava F. Kahn is the author of the forthcoming books Jewish Life in the American West: Generation to Generation (University of Washington Press, 2002) and California Jews (Brandeis University Press and University of New England Press, 2002).

Reviews

I cannot praise this exhaustively researched, elegantly designed, and amply annotated narrative anthology highly enough. . . . This anthology will represent a major contribution to the history of the California Gold Rush as well as the history of Jews in the United States."--Kevin Starr "State Librarian of California"

In amassing the most important original sources in one volume, in presenting them in a clear and systematic manner, and in effectively employing her documents to elucidate the major issues in the field, Ava Kahn has accomplished an enormous amount. Jewish Voices will doubtless aid and influence the narrative and interpretive histories that come after it. Kahn has raised the odds that that Jews of the Gold Rush will eventually receive the attention they are due.-- "The Jewish Quarterly Review"

Kahn provides an excellent bibliographical essay in Jewish Voices of the California Gold Rush, but it's icing on the cake when compared to the richness of the book's documents. Ava Kahn's fine editorial work, the selections themselves, and their vivid descriptions make this work a basic source for anyone interested in learning of the roles Jews played in the Gold Rush, as a source for research into the topic, or just for the pleasure of reading so many eyewitness descriptions from a Jewish point of view. The book is a valuable addition to a growing body of work on Jews in the West."-- "Western States Jewish History"

The book was a true labor of love for the Oakland-based teacher and historian...her new book is her pride and joy...with a cast of characters like that, how can Ava Kahn not go back for more?-- "Jewish Bulletin"