The Deadliest Man-Made Disaster of 20th-Century America and the Making of Modern Los Angeles
November 9, 2015
Popular knowledge of early Los Angeles’s struggle for water owes much to the film Chinatown, but documentary filmmaker and writer Wilkman (Los Angeles: A Pictorial Celebration, with Nancy Wilkman) shows that the real story of L.A.’s water is as fascinating—and devastating—
as the fictionalized version. In 1928, the St. Francis Dam, which held more than 51 million tons of water for Los Angeles, failed, resulting in a 54-mile-long flood path and leaving almost 500 dead. True to its title, this book maintains a focus on the flood itself, but with ample historical context and discussion of the sociopolitical effects up to the present. Wilkman’s goal is to tell the truth about this largely forgotten episode, and he succeeds by studying the personal stories of those who were affected, the investigation into the collapse, and the various theories as to why the dam failed. His extensive research reveals the effects that institutional racism had on victim compensation and care in the flood’s aftermath, and supplies details down to the occasional meal description. More than just the story
of one of the greatest tragedies in the 20th century, Wilkman’s book is also a commentary on developing safe technologies in the face of climate change. B&w photos. Agent: Mel Berger, William Morris Endeavor.
November 1, 2015
Wilkman (Picturing Los Angeles) is better known for his documentary films than his monographs, and he's chosen to tackle a historical topic that remains controversial to this day--the collapse of the St. Francis Dam on March 12, 1928, which cost hundreds of people their lives and resulted in millions of dollars in damages. At the center of the discussion is the dam's creator, William Mulholland, who, throughout his life, had been cast into the roles of both hero and villain for part in the California Water Wars. Wilkman demonstrates a balanced perspective on Mulholland's lifetime of labor, acknowledging both the good and the bad that the man's actions wrought. Moreover, the author ties the events at the St. Francis Dam to the contemporary American experience--with a high demand for water in a severe drought, combined with the aging and failing infrastructure of dams, waterworks, and energy grids, Wilkman convincingly argues that the United States is primed for another such disaster. VERDICT Wilkman's well-written, well-researched, work certainly complements other books published on this provocative topic, such as Mark Reisner's Cadillac Desert and William L. Kahrl's Water and Power.--Crystal Goldman, Univ. of California, San Diego Lib.
Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.