The Island of California: A History of the Myth

To early explorers and geographers California represented a terrestrial paradise. It was Atlantis, Arcadia, Avalon, El Dorado, the Garden of Eden, the Land of Milk and Honey, the Pleasure Dome of Kublai Khan. It was always a magnet for dreamers. In this fascinating book Dora Beale Polk examines the dreams and myths that influenced the discovery and exploration of California. Throughout, Polk treats the long-held concept of California as an island, going back to medieval lore that filled an unknown ocean with rich, mysterious ideal islands. Columbus carried the lore to the New World, expecting to find islands teeming with gold, pearls, fabulous creatures, and Amazon women. Cortés was led by the "romance of the islands." Balboa, Cabrillo, Drake, Ascensión, Kino, and many others entered into the making of the island myth. The discoveries and explorations of all the major figures are traced and their reports analyzed as they relate to California's geography and to the dreams overlaying it. Dora Beale Polk is a professor of English at California State University at Long Beach. She has published popular suspense novels and poetry as well as scholarly works.

Author: Dora Beale Polk
Publisher: University of Nebraska Press
Published: 11/01/1995
Pages: 399
Binding Type: Paperback
Weight: 1.11lbs
Size: 9.01h x 5.98w x 0.88d
ISBN13: 9780803287419
ISBN10: 0803287410
BISAC Categories:
- History | United States | State & Local | General

About the Author
Dora Beale Polk is a professor of English at California State University at Long Beach. She has published popular suspense novels and poetry as well as scholarly works.

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