General Vallejo and the Advent of the Americans

by Alan Rosenus

Best Biography of the Year—Western Writers of America Spur Award. General Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo was one of California's most distinguished citizens in the mid-nineteenth century. A frontier cosmopolitan and visionary, Vallejo owned vast ranchos in northern California and wielded enormous political power throughout the province. While serving as military governor during Mexican rule, he established an open immigration policy that encouraged and facilitated the American entrada to northern California. This richly textured and thoughtful biography explores the contradictions and passions of this most complex of men, shedding light not only on Vallejo, but on the formation of California as a modern state.

Genres: History, Biography

312 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1995

Reviews

[Jared Murphy · Rating 4 out of 5]

For those from the North Bay or those Californians interested in their history or for US citizens who want to know about one of the most important historical persons affected in the US grab (nay stealing) of California, this book is a great biography of Vallejo. Having studied the events in 1846 now known as the Bear Flag Revolt, as well as reading about early land surveys conducted during the Spanish and Mexican California time periods, Rosenus does a good job of presenting Vallejo's perspective during these times via well-documented historical evidence. I have the utmost respect for Vallejo and it could be said that he is to California what a lot of the "Founding Fathers" from Virginia were to their State: he was a city planner, a diplomat, a soldier, a surveyor, and a visionary that forgave those who ill-treated him (i.e. Fremont) and a man who adapted well to a changing California. If you like Sonoma, thank Vallejo because he is responsible for laying out the original city plan. If you like wine, you should know that he headed the first recorded survey party of the area now known as the Napa Valley. He was also a proponent of good relations/equal relations with native peoples and did his best to keep peace with the Russians and others while a military governor of sorts for northern California. Anyway, I could go on, but I recommend reading this book.

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story of Vallejo is the story of California, pre-statehood. In fact, there is probably more California history here than Vallejo history, or at least as much. Whether that's a strength or a weakness of the book I guess depends on what you're more interested in, Vallejo's relationship with this kids and his days as one of California's earliest vintners, or as a prime mover in California's march toward United Statehood. Mine interest is in the latter, so I was a mostly happy camper. It does provide plenty insight into what the man Vallejo was all about: a mostly benevolent dreamer and futurist, proud and stubborn, at times naive to the paradigm shifts he helped to usher in.

Less of a character study though than a highly readable look into his lever-pulling in the history of the Golden State in its days under waning Mexican rule.

[Lesley · Rating 2 out of 5]

Alan Rosenus doesn't accomplish his original purpose. General Vallejo is a history of California as opposed to a biography (whose protagonist is in jail for 3 of the 16 chapters). I was slightly disappointed while reading, as I was expecting more of the social history aspect the emerge. Otherwise it is an engaging read with valuable information.

[Karin · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fascinating man, General Vallejo. This book also told the story of California. Vallejo does not receive the credit he deserves in our history books.