This is a more recent publication (2005). I believe it was the author's doctoral thesis and it reads as such. You can tell when a person has padded their points with tons of references and facts that it's a scholarly project. That's fine. I like scholars. I wish Dydia would have inserted a little more of her thoughts into the text, but I understand why she wouldn't have in this case.
This is an account of how Ramona shaped tourism in southern California. It's pretty interesting. It highlights all the speculating folks did about what/who were the real Ramona people and places. Some people around the turn of the century really tried to maximize on people's interest and turn a profit by claiming that such and such a place was "Ramona's wedding site," and such forth.
I love the pictures she inserted of various "Ramona" brands of olive oil and other products that appeared. she also has some of the original illustrator Henry Sandham's lovely pictures that accompanied the book. It would be fun to get a hold of some of those prints.
She does confess in the thanks at the end. Forgive me, I already returned this book to the library, but that she and her husband shared their first kiss at a Ramona place. Darnit, I don't remember whether it was the wedding site or some other place, but I thought that was sweet. It shows her affection for the story, apart from her intellectual project. However now I must wonder. Was the kiss spontaneous, or did they stage it? Hmm. That definitely detracts from the romance.
We actually drove by Rancho Camulos - supposed basis for the beginning scenes of Ramona. Unfortunately the museum was closed, but I was pretty enamored. It was a charmer, and right off the 126.
No comments:
Post a Comment