The King and Queen of Malibu

January 18, 2016
In this fascinating work, Randall (Dreamland), a senior reporter at Reuters, chronicles the rise and fall of the Rindge family as well as their fight to keep their Malibu, Calif., paradise private. Early in the 20th century, Malibu was an awe-inspiring coastal locale made nearly uninhabitable thanks to the Rindges. The family’s story begins with Frederick Rindge, a wealthy east coaster with chronic health problems and an adventurous spirit. When he and his wife, May, moved west to Los Angeles, he was struck by the beauty of Malibu. They bought a large ranch alongside the beach, but soon found themselves battling with the settlers living in the nearby hills over access to the beach and with tourists’ looking for beautiful hikes and scenic drives. When Frederick died, May grew obsessed with preserving her private lands and the beauty of Malibu. The building anger of Malibu homesteaders and other locals led to suspected arson, a ruined reputation, and the loss of May’s fortune and the majority of her lands. Well written and thoroughly researched, Randall’s exploration of land ownership in America and the American dream addresses issues of sexism, classism, love, and the preservation of natural beauty. Photos.

August 1, 2016

Randall (Dreamland) here writes about the evolution of a deeply rural, mostly farmland Malibu into a desirable spot for the new wealth that the movie business brought to Southern California. Spanning the years just before the American Civil War through the sexy beginnings of early Hollywood, the story of Malibu offers glimpses of movie stars, newly minted millionaires, and the people who had settled the land, viewed through the prism of the marriage of Frederick and May Rindge. He attended Harvard and mingled with presidents; she was used to hard work on a Midwestern farm. They settled in Los Angeles and were instrumental in the city's formation. After Frederick died suddenly, May set out to preserve Malibu, with her efforts resulting in the creation of the iconic Pacific Coast Highway. Eric Summerer capably narrates this lively broad history of one of the most distinctive cities in the United States. VERDICT The audiobook is recommended for listeners fascinated by Hollywood and the expansion of the United States. ["Readers interested in U.S. and California history, Western expansion, political science, or biography will find this an excellent addition to their collection": LJ 2/1/16 review of the Norton hc.]--Pam Kingsbury, Univ. of North Alabama, Florence

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