ImperialFrom the author of Europe Central, winner of the National Book Award, a journalistic tour de force along the Mexican-American border – a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award For generations of migrant workers, Imperial Country has held the promise of paradise and the reality of hell. It sprawls across a stirring accidental sea, across the deserts, date groves and labor camps of Southeastern California, right across the border into Mexico. In this eye-opening book, William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, exploring polluted rivers and guarded factories and talking with everyone from Mexican migrant workers to border patrolmen. Teeming with patterns, facts, stories, people and hope, this is an epic study of an emblematic region. |
Contents
LOVESCAPES 2001 | |
THE WIDEMOUTHED PIPE 2002 | |
THEN AND NOW 18442002 | |
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DITCH 15192005 | |
PART EIGHT RESERVATIONS | |
A DEFINITIVE INTERPRETATION OF THE BLYTHE INTAGLIOS ca 13000 B C 2006 | |
THE ISLAND 20032006 | |
PART NINE CLIMAXES | |
THE LARGEST IRRIGATED DISTRICT IN THE WORLD 1950 | |
THERE WAS ALWAYS FOOD ON THE TABLE 1950s | |
COACHELLA 1950 | |
RIVERSIDE 1950 | |
SIGN OF SLOW GROWTH SENDS STOCKS LOWER 2002 | |
WATER IS HERE 18492002 | |
PREFACE 20022003 | |
BOOKSCAPES 18502003 | |
THE GARDENS OF PARADISE 2007 | |
PART TWO OUTLINES | |
WHEN BREAD WASLIGHT 17681848 | |
LOS ANGELES 1780 | |
LOS ANGELES 1781 | |
TÍAJUANA 1825 | |
TECATE 1830 | |
LOS ANGELES 1845 | |
WEST OF THE RIVER 1803 | |
DRAWING THE LINE 18031848 | |
RANCHSIZE 18001850 | |
MEXICO 18211911 | |
THE LINE ITSELF 18441911 | |
LOS ANGELES 1850 | |
LOST MINES 18492005 | |
WHITE EYELASHES 18531926 | |
COLONEL COUTSS HOMESTEAD 1839ca 1915 | |
THE INDIANS DO ALL THE HARD WORK 17691906 | |
THE INLAND EMPIRE 18601882 | |
WATERSCAPES 18501900 | |
Chapter 31 THEIR NEEDS ARE EASILY SATISFIED 18711906 | |
LOS ANGELES 1875 | |
THE SECOND LINE 1893 | |
THE DIRECT GAZE OF THE CONFIDENT MAN 1900 | |
ADVERTISEMENT OF SALE 2002 | |
IMPERIAL TOWNS 18771910 | |
THE BOOMERS 18801912 | |
CONTINUED FROM PAGE A1 2003 | |
LOS ANGELES 1900 | |
THE IMPERIAL IDEA 19012004 | |
WILBER CLARKS HOMESTEAD 19012005 | |
MEXICALI 19041905 | |
THE SWEET YOUNG NIGHT 2002 | |
IMPERIALS CENTER 19041907 | |
THE THIRD LINE 1907 | |
PAINTSCAPES 19031970 | |
IMPERIAL REPRISE 17811920 | |
PART THREE REVISIONS | |
FUTURES 18832007 | |
HARRY CHANDLERS HOMESTEAD 18981938 | |
PRACTICALLY SELFSUPPORTING IN THREE YEARS 18652004 | |
THE EJIDOS 19032005 | |
IMPERIAL REPRISE 19012006 | |
PART FOUR FOOTNOTES | |
WHAT I WISH I KNEW ABOUT MELOLAND 19071998 | |
SAN DIEGO 17691925 | |
IN MEMORIAM IMPERIAL HAZELDEED 19052002 | |
STOLID OF FACE AND LANGUID 19012003 | |
THE DAYS OF LUPE VÁSQUEZ 2003 | |
LUPE IS LUCKIER The Days of José López from Jalisco 2003 | |
IMPERIAL REPRISE 19052003 | |
PART FIVE ELABORATIONS | |
THE LINE ITSELF 18951926 | |
THE FIRST COYOTE 18951926 | |
THE FIRST HOBO 1901 | |
TWENTY THOUSAND IN 1920 19061922 | |
COACHELLA WAITS 19121917 | |
CITY OF IMPERIAL 1925 | |
THEIR NEEDS ARE EVEN MORE EASILY SATISFIED 18931927 | |
NEGROES AND MEXICANS FOR COTTON 19011930 | |
MEXICANS GETTING UGLY 19111926 | |
THE NEXT STEP ca 1925 | |
EL CENTRO 1925 | |
MEXICALI 1925 | |
VOLSTEAD 19191933 | |
THE CHINESETUNNELS 18492003 | |
INDIO 1925 | |
THE INLAND EMPIRE 1925 | |
LOS ANGELES 1925 | |
TAMERLANES WARRIORS GALLOP INTO THE SQUARE 19242003 | |
WATERSCAPES 19011925 | |
THE MEXICAN USER IS A CUSTOMER NOT ANOWNER 19041918 | |
SAN DIEGO 1925 | |
THE LONG DEATH OF ALBERT HENRY LARSON 19031926 | |
SCROLLSCAPES 16112004 | |
IMPERIAL REPRISE 19011929 | |
PART SIX SUBPLOTS | |
ALMOST AS EFFICIENTLY AS WASHING MACHINES 18911936 | |
LETTUCESCAPES 19221975 | |
THE NIGHTS OF LUPE VÁSQUEZ 2003 | |
IMPERIAL REPRISE 18912003 | |
PART SEVEN CONTRADICTIONS | |
CREDIT WILL BE RESTORED 19291939 | |
MARKET PRICES 19191931 | |
IN A STILL MORE ADVANTAGEOUS POSITION 19281942 | |
THERE IS EVEN EVIDENCE OF A SMALL FRUIT ORCHARD 19312005 | |
COACHELLAS SHARE 19181948 | |
WATERSCAPES 19251950 | |
THE LINE ITSELF 19271950 | |
DIFFERENT FROM ANYTHING ID EVER KNOWN 19331950 | |
FARM SIZE 19101944 | |
JAPANESE ADDENDUM 19411945 | |
BROAD AND SINISTER MOTIVES 19281946 | |
BUTTER CREAM BREAD ca 1936 | |
COACHELLA 19361950 | |
HAVE YOU EVER SEENA FLAX FIELD IN BLOOM? 1940s | |
THE DAYS OF CARMEN CARILLO AND SUSANA CAUDILLO 2003 | |
MARKET PRICES 1950 | |
CROP REPORTS 19461957 | |
CANTALOUPE ANXIETIES 1958 | |
THE BRACEROS 19421965 | |
OPERATION WETBACK 19541955 | |
MEXICALI 1950 | |
COTTONSCAPES 17962007 | |
SAN LUIS RÍO DE COLORADO ca 1968 | |
OCEAN PARKSCAPES 19661993 | |
LOS ANGELES 1950 | |
SAN DIEGO 19201960 | |
TIJUANA 19662065 | |
TECATE 1950 | |
HOLTVILLE 19051964 | |
WHAT A COLD STARRY NIGHT USED TO BE LIKE 19491989 | |
IMPERIAL REPRISE ca 19502066 | |
PART TEN DISSOLUTIONS | |
PROBABLY THE WEATHER 20022003 | |
FROM TEN GALS DOWN TO THREE 19142004 | |
YOU CANT PRODUCE THINGS THE WAY YOU USED TO 20032004 | |
THE AZTECS ARE BACK 2004 | |
THE LINE ITSELF 19502006 | |
FARM SIZE 19502006 | |
WE NOW WORRY ABOUT THE SALE OF THE FRUIT COCKTAIL IN EUROPE 19482003 | |
THE WATER FARMERS 19512003 | |
COACHELLA 1975 | |
THE IMPERIAL IDEA 19502000 | |
IT SEEMS LIKE THE MONEY IS BEING TAKEN BY SOMEBODY 2003 | |
CHÁVEZS GRAPES 19622006 | |
WELLTONMOHAWK 1961 | |
POISONSCAPES 18882003 | |
THE SALTON SEA 19441986 | |
MARKET PRICES 1975 | |
SAN DIEGO 1975 | |
MEXICALI 1975 | |
THE LANGUAGE SEEMS TO BELONG SO TO THIS COUNTRY ca 19602003 | |
LOS ANGELES 1975 | |
EL CENTRO 1975 | |
THE INLAND EMPIRE 18752004 | |
ORANGESCAPES or It Could Be Called Ambrosia I | |
CALICHE 19752005 | |
IMPERIAL REPRISE 17542004 | |
PART ELEVEN POSTSCRIPTS | |
THE PROHIBITED BALLADS 19132005 | |
THE MAQUILADORAS 2004 | |
WATERSCAPES 19752005 | |
AS PRECIOUS AS THIS 2003 | |
ONE ACREFOOT 19032003 | |
OPERATION GATEKEEPER 1994 | |
THE FARM WATER QUALITY MANAGEMENT PLAN 2003 | |
PRIVATIZING THE EJIDOS 19922006 | |
ASSETS FORFEITURE 2003 | |
WE SHOULD HAVE HAD A BETTER NEGOTIATING POSITION 2002 | |
YOU MIGHT AS WELL GET OUT OF THE WAY 2006 | |
WATER IS HERE A VIEW FROM ARIZONA 19852007 | |
WATER IS HERE A VIEW FROM IMPERIAL 2003 | |
Chapter 167RAIN 20052006 | |
PROBATE 19012003 | |
SUCH A GOOD LIFE 2006 | |
STILL AGREAT FARMING COUNTY 2004 | |
IMPERIAL REPRISE 19752005 | |
PART TWELVE DEFINITIONS | |
IF MEXICO WERE ITALY 2004 | |
WHERE DOES LOS ANGELES END? 18342005 | |
MEXICANS AND AMERICANS 19012007 | |
PART THIRTEEN INSCRIPTIONS | |
STILLA MYSTERY 2003 | |
THE LINE ITSELF 20032006 | |
MARSSCAPES 2004 | |
RANCHO ROA 20042005 | |
BROCK FARMS 2004 | |
SALVATION MOUNTAIN 19962005 | |
SIGNAL MOUNTAIN 2003 | |
BETWEEN THE LINES 20032005 | |
MONEYSCAPES 19892005 | |
MONEYSCAPES 20032006 | |
PRESENT AND FUTURE SUCCESSES 2003 | |
MARKET PRICES 2000 | |
IMPERIAL BEACH 2005 | |
SAN DIEGO 20032006 | |
TIJUANA 20032005 | |
TECATE 20032006 | |
CAMPO 2005 | |
MEXICALI 2003 | |
EJIDO NETZAHUALCÓYOTL 2004 | |
SAN LUIS RÍO COLORADO 2006 | |
THE INLAND EMPIRE 20032004 | |
COACHELLA 20032004 | |
INDIO 20032004 | |
DUROVILLE 20032006 | |
SALTON CITY 2006 | |
HOLTVILLE 2003 | |
CALEXICO 2003 | |
EL CENTRO 2002 | |
YELLOW CAB DISPATCHING PRICES CITY OF IMPERIAL 2003 | |
LOS ANGELES 20022005 | |
HOLTVILLE 1914 | |
IMPERIAL REPRISE 19012004 | |
THE CONQUEST OF ARID AMERICA 1905 | |
CONCERNING THE MAPS | |
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Common terms and phrases
acres agricultural All-American Canal already American Imperial Angeles asked Barbara Worth better and better Border Patrol Brawley Calexico California called cantaloupes Centro Chandler Chapter Chinesca Chinese citrus Coachella Valley Colorado River Colorado River Land cotton County’s coyote crop dark desert dirt ditch dollars ejidos farm farmers fields gaze George Chaffey girl grapefruit green growers hectares Holt Holtville Hotel hundred Imperial County Imperial Valley Imperial Valley Press Imperial’s Indians Indio irrigation labor lettuce live look Lupe Meanwhile Mexicali Mexicali Valley Mexican Mexico miles mountains never been cheated night Northside orange palm percent photograph pollos ranch remember Río Nuevo River Land Company Riverside Riverside County Salton City Salton Sea San Diego side sometimes Southside street tell there’s thousand Tijuana told town trees tunnels who’d Wilber Clark woman workers Yuma