A California Compendium.

Both the scholar and the average reader will be charmed by her compendium of surprising stories, a welcome contribution to California's rich history. Or that powerful winds crossing Tehachapi Pass (on the present-day Pacific Crest Trail) blew the hats off so many stagecoach passengers it was rumored the wayward headgear was used to start a "hat farm"? In her author's note to Fascinating True Tales From Old California Colleen Adair Fliedner describes the book as a sampling of most interesting stories from the early days of the Golden State, ones that will make readers think, Wow!. [Extracted from the article]