The King of California: J. G. Boswell and the Making of a Secret American Empire
Author: Mark Arax, Rick Wartzman
List Price: $30.00
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ISBN: 1586480286
Publisher: PublicAffairs (October, 2003)
Sales Rank: 2,121
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
LARGEST LAKE IN THE US DRAINED FOR AGRICULTURE
Mark Arax and Rick Wartzman have compiled and written a wonderfully comprehensive book on the struggle between man and nature as well as on man and the political machine. The story of J.G. Boswell and the taking of Tulare Lake is nothing short of an incredible tale of how a family of humble beginnings could become the largest farming operation in the United States. Arax and Wartzman are to be congratulated for their survival through years of research and writing of a book that will remain a classic of California history for years to come. Seen by many who are connected with the Boswell empire as a threat, the book lays out the details of how the company systematically gained thousands of acre feet of water rights in a drought-threatened San Joaquin Valley. It is a well rounded book telling a fantastic true story. The Boswell company should be proud of their success as should Mark and Rick in theirs. Booksellers in the San Joaquin Valley can't keep it in stock and have sold thousands of copies to local residents. It is a story that people want to know about.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Boswell's story embraces the growth & history of California
King Of California is the true story of J.G. Boswell and a strong history of early California politics. King Of California tells the elusive story of a farmer who thumbed his nose at nature, politicians and reporters alike - one who owned more agricultural acreage and river water than any other land baron in the West. Boswell's story embraces the growth and history of California and is packed from cover to cover with historical drama and insights.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Excellent for anyone interested in large scale farming
Excellent history of the Boswell family. Very interesting reading. The authors described many technical aspects of production agriculture in suprising detail considering that they are reporters and not agriculture specialists.
Anyone involved in farm management, agriculture economics, environmental management or agricultural water management will enjoy reading this book. Similar Products
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