Books like The Dream Endures by Kevin Starr

In _The Dream Endures_, Kevin Starr examines the rise of California’s so‑called "good life" during the 1930s, showing how the state's film studios, architecture, and leisure culture contributed to a distinct American identity.\n\nStarr highlights Hollywood’s heyday, detailing the era’s cinematic output and the social world surrounding the studios. He also analyzes the influx of European refugees—actors, artists, and intellectuals such as Igor Stravinsky, Arnold Schoenberg, and Man Ray—who sought to recreate their European heritage in Southern California, while figures like Samuel Goldwyn supplied narratives that resonated with a broader audience.\n\nA focal point is San Francisco, where Starr argues that its beauty and commercial vitality were matched by a profound sense of well‑being that benefited its residents. He explores the city’s vibrant cultural scene, from photographers Edward Weston and Ansel Adams to hard‑boiled fiction writers and pioneering film stars such as Marlene Dietrich, Jean Harlow, Bette Davis, Carole Lombard, and Mae West, portraying a golden era of social and cultural history.

First publish date: June 30, 1996