West of the West is not a history of California, nor is it an anthology. Its subtitle more accurately identifies it: “Witnesses to the California Experience: The Story of California from the Conquistadores to the Great Earthquake, 1542-1906, As Described by the Men and Women Who Were There.” In twenty chapters and an epilogue two Los Angeles journalists have created a four-century panorama of California’s history using the words of participants.

There is little doubt that Kirsch and Murphy have had courses in history and have spent much time in the Huntington Library. However, their story is sometimes limited to one aspect of the events portrayed. They believe that if a document was published over a century ago, it is the gospel truth. In fact, they often do not cite the more modern and far more scholarly editions of many of the sources quoted and sometimes do not identify the source at all. On the other hand, they have consulted several rare publications and in some cases manuscript sources.

West of the West has other merits. It is well written, and the selection of topics is interesting in some respects. For example, the authors have endeavored to paint the history of California before the Gold Rush in the broad sweep of a Russian account, an English account, and an American account. Their story of the emigrant trail is based on Overton Johnson and William H. Winter; that of the conquest of California upon Frémont. They selected what they thought was a “representative group of witnesses to each period of the California experience,” but shy away from the twentieth century as requiring a separate volume.

The bibliography is a curious combination of good and not so good references, while many standard works of unquestioned scholarship have been omitted. More than 100 illustrations furnish a dramatic background to the narrative. All in all, an interesting and useful volume for the popular reader.