Irish Californians: Historic, Benevolent, Romantic

Rating:
Summary: An engaging and enjoyable account of the Irish in California
Review: Irish Californians: Historic, Benevolent, Romantic

California in the mid-nineteenth century was awash with opportunity. The readily available land and the gold rush were big draws to an immigrant Irish population, often fresh from the coffin ships of the dark famine years. The Eastern seaboard had served them well but did not present many with the opportunity for fame and fortune. So they came west in their hordes. The growth and development of California is inextricably linked to the story of the Irish settlers of those times. The state was in its infancy and the Irish were ideally suited to the frontier environment by dint of their vision and capacity for sheer hard work.

Patrick Dowling's latest offering provides a vivid and exhilarating record of the history of the Irish in California. Included here are accounts of some noteworthy politicos, as one might expect, but also the stories of some of the ordinary Irish men and women who thrived in California. It is this holistic approach which brings Mr. Dowling's book to life. Through his engaging biographies of the personalities of the period, he gives us an informative and accurate picture of the contribution made by the Irish.

We learn of the senators, mayors and judges who ran California and in particular San Francisco, and of the teachers that often were the first to institutionalize education in the state. Also of the entrepreneurs, developers and engineers whose plans and buildings still stand in testament to their endeavors. The soldiers who played such an important role in the formation of modern-day America, and the altruistic Irish men and women who nursed and treated them are also featured. Irish sports stars that are now household names throughout the land are not forgotten. The list goes on. Each chapter deals not only with the actions and achievements of its subject but is also infused with details and clues as to their individual personality, the inherent "Irishness" of the protagonists always to the fore.

Comprehensively researched (over 10 years) and delightfully and lavishly illustrated, it is at times witty, often moving and always enticing. Dowling's style is akin to that of a storyteller. It is littered with skillfully handled twists and hilarious anecdotes. This is enjoyable in the extreme and an absolute requirement for any Irish Californian or anybody for that matter who has the slightest interest in the history of the Irish in America. Patrick Dowling wrote this book, in his own words, "to awaken Irish Americans to their forgotten heritage, both in Ireland and California, and to help inspire a renaissance of Irish history, culture and achievements." He will certainly accomplish this dream.

Rating:
Summary: An entertaining and inspiring book
Review: This book is about an immigrant group and its assimiliation into California life and society. The many stories told in the book affirm that optimism and hard-work go a long way in a wide-open and prosperous place like California. Most of the people whose stories are told in this book started out with little or nothing, and yet achieved greatness through their own perseverance and boundless energy. The book possesses a rare combination of attributes in that it is both entertaining and inspiring.