Pacific Street

by Cecelia Holland

A small black woman and an Indian carpenter form a conspiracy against an enticing blond performer for the Shining Light saloon, in a vivid tale set against the backdrop of the ramshackle, half-built San Francisco during the Gold Rush. 15,000 first printing.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Historical, Fiction

260 pages, Hardcover

First published February 17, 1991

About the author

Pen name used by Elizabeth Eliot Carter.

Cecelia Holland is one of the world's most highly acclaimed and respected historical novelists, ranked by many alongside other giants in that field such as Mary Renault and Larry McMurtry. Over the span of her thirty year career, she's written almost thirty historical novels, including The Firedrake, Rakessy, Two Ravens, Ghost on the Steppe, Death of Attila, Hammer For Princes, The King's Road, Pillar of the Sky, The Lords of Vaumartin, Pacific Street, Sea Beggars, The Earl, The King in Winter, The Belt of Gold, The Serpent Dreamer, The High City, Kings of the North, and a series of fantasy novels, including The Soul Thief, The Witches Kitchen, The Serpent Dreamer, and Varanger. She also wrote the well-known science fiction novel Floating Worlds, which was nominated for a Locus Award in 1975. Her most recent book is a new fantasy novel, Dragon Heart.

Reviews

[Joan Horkey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting tale of San Francisco during the gold rush.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting take on life in gold rush era San Francisco. Each main character was carefully brought into flesh with description and point of view. Feeling what each character felt was mesmerizing as we travelled with them through their time on Pacific Street and, as San Francisco grew, the surrounding areas of the town. Seeing the perspective of life from former slaves redefining themselves as free citizens along with other people considered colored by the people of the town. Experiencing the many perspectives of the European immigrants running from their families and all the mysteries of their past. The author did a nice job showing the weakness in humanity and how we manage to succeed and fail all at once. Cecelia Holland appears to enjoy putting human weakness under the microscope in a way that leaves the reader wondering if the character in question will find a way to turn their weakness into a strength or fall to their weakness.

[Mandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was pointless. The ending was completely disappointing. Everyone just scattered friendless, alone, and angry. Which seemed completely stupid. I mean they all stuck up for each other saved each other from a crooked ruthless man. So why the animosity and separation? This book was a waste of my eyeballs time.

[Diana Sandberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very early days of San Francisco. Good but not gripping. I liked some of the characters. Story seemed disjointed, but because of time constraints I had to read it in small chunks, so maybe that was the reason.

[Grecia Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good. Wildly interesting perspectives. The ending was slightly sad though. Wish it would've been longer, so we could have followed them a little more.