Sandra E. Bonura tells the overlooked yet genuine rags-to-riches story of Claus Spreckels and his pioneering role in developing the sugar industry in the United States and the kingdom of Hawai'i.

Western history buffs and rail fans will find a rich and interesting history of the mining town of Austin, Nevada and the narrow gauge railroad that served the town for almost 60 years, the Nevada Central Railroad. Several photographs and maps show the town and the railroad as it was.

An annotated bibliography concentrating on what Steinbeck attempted to keep most hid--the details of his life. Harmon (curator, Steinbeck Research Center) ferrets out the most interesting reference sources for scholars and nosy literati including magazine articles, newspaper accounts, books, films, audio recording, and dictionaries. A detailed chronology is also included with snippets of information about each each major and minor passage in the author's life, such as public fights with his wife and the Nobel Prize acceptance. Includes a small selection of photographs. Annotation copyright by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

The Monterey coast, home to an acclaimed aquarium and the setting for John Steinbeck's classic novel Cannery Row, was also the stage for a historical junction of industry and tourism. Shaping the Shoreline looks at the ways in which Monterey has formed, and been formed by, the tension between labor and leisure. Connie Y. Chiang examines Monterey's development from a seaside resort into a working-class fishing town and, finally, into a tourist attraction again. Through the subjects of work, recreation, and environment -- the intersections of which are applicable to communities across the United States and abroad -- she documents the struggles and contests over this magnificent coastal region. By tracing Monterey's shift from what was once the literal Cannery Row to an iconic hub that now houses an aquarium in which nature is replicated to attract tourists, the interactions of people with nature continues to change. Drawing on histories of immigration, unionization, and the impact of national and international events, Chiang explores the reciprocal relationship between social and environmental change. By integrating topics such as race, ethnicity, and class into environmental history, Chiang illustrates the idea that work and play are not mutually exclusive endeavors.