Desert Lore of Southern California [Paperback]

Choral Pepper (Author), Choral Pepper (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 093265326X | ISBN-13: 978-0932653260 | Publication Date: February 15, 1999 | Edition: 2nd

Renowned western writer and former Publisher of Desert Magazine, author Choral Pepper evokes the mystery and magic of southern California's desert, spinning tales of lost mines, Indian myths, legendary characters, strange natural features, and fabled treasure ships. Her self-guiding walks and drives enable the explorer to experience the stories beyond the vistas along byways and trails from the Palm Springs area to the Salton Sea, down the Colorado River, and through the desert parks from Joshua Tree to Anza-Borrego. As in oral and written tradition the world over, these stories have become the essential myth of this fabled land and its people. Choral's lively style samples the range of desert California from often told tales of treasure ships to the first-time report on "the pyramids at the center of the world."

Editorial Reviews

Review

A magical blend of myth, legend, and very real history ...wonderful tales, some long out of print and some fresh ...this book will remain a permanent and well thumbed addition to your bookcase or backpack. -- -Steven Bogdan Historian; Imperial County Historical Society

The modest title of Desert Lore of Southern California scarcely odes justice to this completely researched and endlessly fascinating narrative of historical vignettes and legends. ---Richard W. Crawford Archivist; San Diego Historical Society

About the Author

Choral Pepper's name is closely linked with the literature and lore of the American Southwest. In addition to frequent special features for the Los Angeles Times and Christian Science Monitor, she was a syndicated travel columnist for twelve years, published continent-wide in fourteen metropolitan newspapers. Perhaps best known to desert enthusiasts as publisher of Desert Magazine during the decade of the 1960's, she has also written seventeen books including such southwestern classics as Guidebook to the Colorado Desert of California, The Mysterious West, and Treasure Legends of the West.

In Choral's words, "perhaps because of a wanderlust nature, I gravitated naturally to writing travel. My parents started this trend when they took me to Europe at age eleven. Since then I have covered every part of the world. I've attended a mit-mit in Yap, dined with headhunters in Bornio, safaried in wartime Rhodesia while is was becoming Zimbabwe, explored Baja with the late mystery writer Erle Stanley Gradner, waltzed in Vienna, dined in Paris, shopped in Hong Kong, and had an apartment in London."

Join her now on a magical journey though time and beyond time in the Desert Lore of Southern California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 174 pages
• Publisher: Sunbelt Publications; 2nd edition (February 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 093265326X
• ISBN-13: 978-0932653260
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,371,889 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Southern California's Mysterious Deserts, April 3, 2000

By 

Kent Duryee - See all my reviews

This review is from: Desert Lore of Southern California (Paperback)

In the second edition of Desert Lore of Southern California, Choral Pepper, former owner and publisher of Desert Magazine, takes readers on a wide ranging journey around the lower deserts of California. Her knowledge of the history and legends of the area is unsurpassed. Desert Lore begins with a brief natural history of the Salton Sea, followed by a fascinating sketch of the human history behind the origins of this, the latest reincarnation of ancient Lake Cahuilla. From this point, the book diverges through the desert, weaving its tales of lost gold, fabulous gems, Viking ships wedged into geologic formations, plank roads and Felicity, CA, The Center of the World.

Travelers crossing the desert in anticipation of other, more moist environs, as well as the hardened, grizzled, sand-blasted desert rat can garner much by carrying this fine book along with them during their travels.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Lots of History; Great for Beginners, June 16, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Desert Lore of Southern California (California desert natural history guides) (Paperback)

I actually loved this book as I have traveled to just about every area this book talked about. I especially like the personal knowledge that Choral Pepper shows of all the areas due to her experiences in the region. I learned a lot of different and fascinating facts that I had never known despite years of familiarity with these places.

My ONLY complaint is that I wanted even more details, but I suppose that might make a long and tedious book for some people. People unfamiliar with the area will find this book a good introduction to the geology and history of the people and landscape. I found myself transported back to these areas whenever I was reading this book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great fun by someone who's been there, October 16, 2010

By 

Dan - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Desert Lore of Southern California (Sunbelt Natural History Guides) (Kindle Edition)

A former publisher of Desert Magazine gives many brief looks at the mythology of the Southern California desert.

Very entertaining and great fun, if a tad short for the price.