The Rivals: William Gwin, David Broderick, and the Birth of California
Worth buying if: You enjoy political history built around two forceful opposing figures.
Skip it if: You are looking for a novel rather than a historical study.
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780803288515. The Amazon link uses this ISBN, so the product page should open to the edition shown here.
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Summary
This 320-page work centers on Gwin, Broderick, and the rivalry that shaped California’s early political identity. Quinn presents the subject as a focused work of general-interest history.
Why this book now
California’s political origins offer a useful historical lens on how personal rivalry can shape a state’s public life.
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Best for readers who...
Good fit if you want...
- You enjoy political history built around two forceful opposing figures.
- You want a focused account of California’s early statehood and political formation.
- You are looking for a novel rather than a historical study.
- You prefer broad national history over a concentrated California subject.
- You only want something with very current references and examples.
Decided it fits?
Exact edition: Edition shown · ISBN-13 9780803288515
Worth buying if: You enjoy political history built around two forceful opposing figures.
Skip it if: You are looking for a novel rather than a historical study.
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.
Reader guide
Cues to help you decide faster.
Reading commitment
Balanced Moderate time
At 320 pages, this is a substantial but focused history suited to steady reading rather than a quick overview.
What stands out here
This University of Nebraska Press record identifies the 1997 edition of Quinn’s study in a 320-page format.
Best way to approach it
Read it with attention to the contrast between Gwin and Broderick and to the larger question of how California took political shape.
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Exact edition: ISBN-13 9780803288515
Check Amazon for the current price and availability of this exact edition.