Santa Cruz Is in the Heart: Selected Writings on Local History, Culture, Politics & Ghosts

Geoffrey Dunn explores the diverse history of Santa Cruz County with the intensity and love that only a homeboy can. Dunn alternately embraces and slaps his hometown as he wanders its historic and contemporary by-ways, relating stories that have eluded previous writers. The figures that emerge from this book will linger long after you put it down. From Old Chepa, the "Californio" woman whose life spanned the entire 19th century, to African-American community activist, Helen Weston, Dunn tells their stories with affection. And, lest you think that all of his profiles come from the more progressive parts of Santa Cruz's tapestry, he also includes an illuminating biography and interview with Edith Manchester, one of the leaders of Santa Cruz's anti-abortion community. The book is punctuated with some previously unpublished photographs and drawings, as well as several original poems. This book is a perfect addition to the library of anyone wishing to understand the spirit and character of an ever-evolving California coastal community.