Chinese Gold: The Chinese in the Monterey Bay Region

by Sandy Lydon

An excellent history of Chinese settlements in Monterey, Carmel, Santa Cruz, and Watsonville (including some very fine maps).

550 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 1985

Reviews

[Mary Ahlgren · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another story featuring humanity's inhumanity to people seen as "the other" or "less than". Impeccably researched with photos from back in the 1890's , it's an interesting glimpse into racism in a place so very beautiful.....

[Albert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Should one traverse the shoreline of Monterrey Bay, one may notice that, outside of Monterrey itself, the history of the Chinese settlers in the region is not so greatly emphasized. Salinas may have the Steinbeck Center and Monterrey's tributes to Steinbeck acknowledge his acknowledgement of the Chinese immigrant experience and their struggles, but the larger community has left few plaques and relics that only a committed traveler would encounter.

This book fixes that gap.

Lydon has committed extensive research into the Chinese community of the region, explaining their resilience, limited prosperity, and eventual decline. The book is imbued with many maps, pictures, and details that help verify and reinforce his claims, and may certainly help readers with little exposure or knowledge to the events or settings discussed in this book.

If one holds any interest in the Chinese immigrant experience, this book is a must read.