Thomas O. Larkin: A Life of Patriotism and Profit in Old California

Overview

Arriving in Mexican California in 1832, Thomas O. Larkin (1802-1858) expected to become a rich man-and he did: he became a successful merchant, financier, and land developer. Larkin also became the confidant of California officials, American consul to California, and secret agent of the president of the United States during the territory’s transition from Mexican to American control. Harlan Hague and David Langum have uncovered a large body of new information, shedding light on many aspects of Larkin’s personal ...

See more details below
Available through our Marketplace sellers.
Other sellers (Paperback)
  • All (7) from $13.00   
  • New (2) from $14.79   
  • Used (5) from $13.00   
Close
Sort by
Page 1 of 1
Showing All
Note: Marketplace items are not eligible for any BN.com coupons and promotions
$14.79
Seller since 2007

Feedback rating:

(870)

Condition:

New — never opened or used in original packaging.

Like New — packaging may have been opened. A "Like New" item is suitable to give as a gift.

Very Good — may have minor signs of wear on packaging but item works perfectly and has no damage.

Good — item is in good condition but packaging may have signs of shelf wear/aging or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Acceptable — item is in working order but may show signs of wear such as scratches or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Used — An item that has been opened and may show signs of wear. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Refurbished — A used item that has been renewed or updated and verified to be in proper working condition. Not necessarily completed by the original manufacturer.

New
1995-03-15 Paperback New NEW-It is NEW It is still in its original factory seal. and it is without a remainder mark.

Ships from: Rockford, IL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • Canadian
  • International
  • Standard, 48 States
  • Standard (AK, HI)
  • Express, 48 States
  • Express (AK, HI)
$36.69
Seller since 2007

Feedback rating:

(7831)

Condition: New
Buy with confidence. Excellent Customer Service & Return policy.

Ships from: Richmond, TX

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • Canadian
  • International
  • Standard, 48 States
  • Standard (AK, HI)
Page 1 of 1
Showing All
Close
Sort by
Sending request ...

Overview

Arriving in Mexican California in 1832, Thomas O. Larkin (1802-1858) expected to become a rich man-and he did: he became a successful merchant, financier, and land developer. Larkin also became the confidant of California officials, American consul to California, and secret agent of the president of the United States during the territory’s transition from Mexican to American control. Harlan Hague and David Langum have uncovered a large body of new information, shedding light on many aspects of Larkin’s personal life as well as on his business and diplomatic activities. Historians and general readers will welcome this full-scale biography of one of the most important men in the history of early California.

Read More Show Less

Editorial Reviews

California History
Hague and Langum have authored a wonderful biography that will be the standard life of Larkin for many years to come. . . . This is one of the best accounts available on the nature of commercial transactions during the Mexican period, and Hague and Langum deserve considerable praise for carefully leading readers through the complications and intricacies of Larkin's financial affairs. These pages constitute a unique contribution to California history.
Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly
Long before the Beach Boys, there was the ``California Dream,'' and New England-born Larkin was among the first to pursue it. In 1832, as a young man without a formal education, Larkin traveled to desolate Mexican California in search of his fortune. First as a merchant in Monterey and later as a land speculator who worked largely in booming San Francisco, he became extremely wealthy before his death in 1858. Depicted as a patriot and ``gentle imperialist'' in this tedious bigoraphy that lacks analysis and color, Larkin served as U.S. consul and secret agent during the ticklish Americanization process in 1846-1847. Hague and Langum are the authors of, respectively, Road to California and Law and Community on the Mexican California Frontier. (Dec.)
Booknews
An analysis of Merton's condemnation of the use of nuclear weapons, drawing on his thoughts on nuclear weapons, their morality and the causes of the arms race. A biography of a major figure in California's transition from Mexican rule to American. The focus is on the man rather than California history. The subject--whose successfully realized ambition when he arrived in Mexican California in 1832 was to become rich--obliged his biographers by saving correspondence, bills, receipts and all sorts of minutiae. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
Read More Show Less

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780806127330
  • Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press
  • Publication date: 3/15/1995
  • Edition description: REPRINT
  • Pages: 320
  • Product dimensions: 5.76 (w) x 8.95 (h) x 0.98 (d)

Meet the Author

Harlan Hague taught history at San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton, California. He is the author of Road to California and currently is editing a collection of Larkin letters.

David J Langum is Professor of Law in the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama. He is the author of Crossing Over the Line: Legislating Morality and the Mann Act and Law and Community on the Mexican California Frontier (University of Oklahoma Press).

Read More Show Less

Customer Reviews

Be the first to write a review
( 0 )
Rating Distribution

5 Star

(0)

4 Star

(0)

3 Star

(0)

2 Star

(0)

1 Star

(0)

Your Rating:

Your Name: Create a Pen Name or

Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

What to exclude from your review:

Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

Reviews should not contain any of the following:

  • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
  • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
  • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
  • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
  • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
  • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
  • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

Reminder:

  • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
  • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
  • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

Create a Pen Name

Your Pen Name is your unique identity on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

 
Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

Continue Anonymously

    If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
    Why is this product inappropriate?
    Comments (optional)