Highway 99: A Literary Journey Through California's Great Central Valley - Softcover

Stan Yogi (Editor)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0930588827 ISBN 13: 9780930588823

Publisher: Heyday Books, 1996

Synopsis

From the myths of the Yokuts Indians to stories and poems of famous contemporary writers, this ground breaking anthology showcases the best of California's Great Central Valley writings.

Unlike New England or the South, the Central Valley has never been recognized as a region of literary significance. And yet this flat farming region, nestled between the Sierra Nevada and the coast, has produced a surprising body of magnificent writing. This anthology includes more than 70 writers, storytellers, and poets, each interpreting the Valley from their own perspective and personal experience. Together, they provide a rich view of the region's physical and emotional landscape.

This is American literature at its best - literature as authentic and as powerful as the land that inspired it.

About this title

About the Author:

Stan Yogi is a writer living in Oakland whose father grew up in the Central Valley. His critical writings on literature have appeared in numerous journals and magazines, and he regularly reviews books for the "San Francisco Chronicle."

Review:

"... Conveys a real sense of this 'other California' to a newcomer and adds texture and depth... for a native." -- Connections

"At last, the fierce and subtle textures of California's Central Valley receive their literary due in this anthology." -- East Bay Express

"Fascinating stories and poignant memories are bumper to bumper in Highway 99..." -- San Francisco Chronicle

"Recommended for all California collections." -- Library Journal

"_Highway 99_ is a rich mix of poetry, fiction, and journalism." -- Los Angeles Times

Highway 99: A Literary Journey Through California's Great Central Valley is a beautiful anthology of multiculturalism from short stories to essays to poetry to plays written by more than 70 authors whose works reflect the metamorphosis of the Great Central Valley's landscape. The contributors are people from around the world who moved to the Great Central Valley and found inspiration through the land and its people. Presented in near chronological order, the anthology begins with the settlement and survival of newcomers to the region and continues through the influx of different people and cultures for almost 200 years. It ends with the effects that modern life have had on the landscape, while at the same time challenging the area's new diversity of life to maintain both its heritage and agricultural value. Highway 99 is an excellent complementary text for an ethnic studies class at the secondary or collegiate level. It can also be added to one's personal library, enhancing the understanding and appreciation of this dynamic region of California. -- From Independent Publisher

About this edition

• Publisher: Heyday Books
• Publication date: 1996
• ISBN 10: 0930588827
• ISBN 13: 9780930588823
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 448