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The Mirage Factory Illusion, Imagination, and the Invention of Los Angeles
Gary Krist
Crown, first edition, 2018 ISBN: 978-0-451-49638-6 |
Those interested in the history of Los Angeles will surely find this book informative and entertaining, but be advised that it is far from comprehensive. Whilst this might turn off certain readers looking for more substance, it should be stated that there is still plenty to be learned here, especially for the novice, as the book is well researched. In essence, the central thesis of the book is that Los Angeles can be understood by studying the personal lives and career paths of a few major figures. As such the author chose to exclusively focus on three major players that helped shape the character of this city in the early 20th century, when Los Angeles was an irrelevant, smallish town in the far western United States.
The Hollywood mogul (D. W. Griffith), the charismatic evangelist (Aimee Semple McPherson) and the water baron (William Mulholland) make up the central cast of this story, and the author does a great job of presenting them to us in all their glory and frailty. Indeed, what makes this a compelling story is that they each indelibly etched their signature on this city despite their ultimate downfall. We get to see how these uniquely idiosyncratic individuals brought their genius to bear, and yet how unaware they were of their flaws! Ultimately this is the story of the human condition and the author lets the reader make any necessary judgments on the lives and travails of three pioneers.
