false 5719302 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 5719302 4 5890919 book 30 7 2009 Imperial total:18|5:5|4:5|3:7|2:1| 18 68 190 11 940746 3.83 2885 532 73292920 1008236 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.71 14 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 4 0 false Sat Oct 03 07:13:07 -0700 2009 Sat Oct 03 08:16:05 -0700 2009 Imperial overwhelming (not to mention the $55 price tag). But none could dismiss Vollmann's work, and most praised it strongly. They admired not only Vollmann's bombastic literary...more...]]> 65482302 692190 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 5 0 false Sun Aug 09 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Wed Jul 29 19:34:17 -0700 2009 Sun Aug 09 20:25:00 -0700 2009 more...]]> 68770940 279997 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 2 0 false Mon Aug 24 19:51:18 -0700 2009 Mon Aug 24 19:53:20 -0700 2009 67929186 2627257 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 3 0 false Sat Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue Aug 18 14:11:00 -0700 2009 Sat Oct 24 15:42:25 -0700 2009 more...]]> 77052920 2655746 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 0 0 false Sat Nov 07 17:50:59 -0800 2009 Sat Nov 07 17:51:54 -0800 2009 69916473 690452 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 0 0 false Thu Sep 03 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 03 07:48:35 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 03 07:49:37 -0700 2009 Vollman is one of those "writers who writes faster than I can read." ]]> 52910037 99132 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 0 0 false Thu Apr 16 10:53:42 -0700 2009 Thu Apr 16 10:54:09 -0700 2009 79811569 3007030 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 0 0 false Thu Dec 03 17:33:42 -0800 2009 Thu Dec 03 17:34:12 -0800 2009 65656802 245709 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 3 0 false Thu Sep 17 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jul 31 09:18:54 -0700 2009 Thu Sep 17 17:52:34 -0700 2009 more...]]> 63176627 877420 6610980 1 http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6610980-imperial 4.00 1 2009 4 0 false Sat Aug 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sun Jul 12 13:32:49 -0700 2009 Sun Oct 11 10:40:43 -0700 2009 My review at the A.V. Club.]]> 55895557 2313711 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 3 0 false Thu Aug 13 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Tue May 12 22:35:16 -0700 2009 Tue Sep 22 10:41:50 -0700 2009 81995662 2116632 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 0 0 false Fri Dec 25 02:55:06 -0800 2009 Fri Dec 25 02:56:36 -0800 2009 81920299 2114698 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 0 0 false Wed Dec 23 22:09:44 -0800 2009 Wed Dec 23 22:09:47 -0800 2009 81880533 585893 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 0 0 false Wed Dec 23 13:23:31 -0800 2009 Wed Dec 23 13:23:31 -0800 2009 81847511 1607994 5563503 1576874893 9781576874899 0 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616235m/5563503.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616235s/5563503.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5563503.Imperial 4.00 3 Imperial is a study of a people and place on the margins, familiar territory for its author. Through his exploration, Vollmann uncovers the people and their struggles, which have been so easily pushed aside. It's a photographic portrait of the Valley's last decade, in which Vollmann's pictures provide a visual identity to those who call it home. They have suffered and flourished amidst a landscape that is both breathtaking and heartbreaking, alluring and repelling.

]]> 2009 0 0 false Wed Dec 23 07:11:23 -0800 2009 Fri Dec 25 02:48:38 -0800 2009 81655039 173636 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 0 0 false Mon Dec 21 09:39:08 -0800 2009 Mon Dec 21 09:39:08 -0800 2009 81270787 2418537 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 0 0 false Thu Dec 17 00:01:40 -0800 2009 Thu Dec 17 00:01:40 -0800 2009 80727536 1456364 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 0 0 false Fri Dec 11 21:32:59 -0800 2009 Fri Dec 11 21:32:59 -0800 2009 80567046 44046 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 0 0 false Thu Dec 10 12:59:02 -0800 2009 Thu Dec 10 12:59:02 -0800 2009 80545433 309075 5719302 0670020613 9780670020614 10 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230m/5719302.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1255616230s/5719302.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5719302.Imperial 3.78 18 An epic study of an emblematic American region by one of our most celebrated writers

It sprawls across a stinking artificial sea, across the deserts, date groves, and labor camps of southeastern California, right across the Mexican border. For generations of migrant workers, from Okies fleeing the Dust Bowl of the 1930s to Mexican laborers today, Imperial County has held the promise of paradise—and the reality of hell. It is a land beautiful and harsh, enticing and deadly, rich in history and heartbreak. Across the border, the desert is the same but there are different secrets. In Imperial, award-winning writer William T. Vollmann takes us deep into the heart of this haunted region, and by extension into the dark soul of American imperialism.

Known for his penetrating meditations on poverty and violence, Vollmann has spent ten years doggedly investigating every facet of this bi-national locus, raiding archives, exploring polluted rivers, guarded factories, and Chinese tunnels, talking with everyone from farmers to border patrolmen in his search for the fading American dream and its Mexican equivalent. The result is a majestic book that addresses current debates on immigration, agribusiness, and corporate exploitation, issues that will define AmericaÂ’s identity in the twenty-first century.]]> 2009 0 0 false Thu Dec 10 10:08:33 -0800 2009 Thu Dec 10 10:08:33 -0800 2009 8 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=5719302