SKU: 88949015306

The Mirage Factory: Illusion, Imagination, and the Invention of Los Angeles

Sale price$13.77 Regular price$15.30
Save 10%

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 10 - Jul 15

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

The Mirage Factory: Illusion, Imagination, and the Invention of Los AngelesFrom bestselling author Gary Krist, the story of the metropolis that never should have been and the visionaries who dreamed it into reality Little more than a century ago, the southern coast of California bone dry, harbor less, isolated by deserts and mountain ranges seemed destined to remain scrappy farmland. Then, as if overnight, one of the world's iconic cities emerged. At the heart of Los Angeles' meteoric rise were three flawed visionaries:

From bestselling author Gary Krist, the story of the metropolis that never should have been and the visionaries who dreamed it into reality

Little more than a century ago, the southern coast of California--bone-dry, harbor-less, isolated by deserts and mountain ranges--seemed destined to remain scrappy farmland. Then, as if overnight, one of the world's iconic cities emerged. At the heart of Los Angeles' meteoric rise were three flawed visionaries: William Mulholland, an immigrant ditch-digger turned self-taught engineer, designed the massive aqueduct that would make urban life here possible. D.W. Griffith, who transformed the motion picture from a vaudeville-house novelty into a cornerstone of American culture, gave L.A. its signature industry. And Aimee Semple McPherson, a charismatic evangelist who founded a religion, cemented the city's identity as a center for spiritual exploration.

All were masters of their craft, but also illusionists, of a kind. The images they conjured up--of a blossoming city in the desert, of a factory of celluloid dreamworks, of a community of seekers finding personal salvation under the California sun--were like mirages liable to evaporate on closer inspection. All three would pay a steep price to realize these dreams, in a crescendo of hubris, scandal, and catastrophic failure of design that threatened to topple each of their personal empires. Yet when the dust settled, the mirage that was LA remained.

Spanning the years from 1900 to 1930, The Mirage Factory is the enthralling tale of an improbable city and the people who willed it into existence by pushing the limits of human engineering and imagination.



Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Broadway Books
Published: 05/14/2019
ISBN: 9780451496393
Pages: 432
Weight: 0.70lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.20w x 1.00d
Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 88949015306

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.6 ★★★★★
Based on 1406 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
S
Verified Purchase
Sergio
Draper, US
★★★★★ 5
very good
Size: 7.5, Color: Cognac
veryyyy gooood
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 29, 2026
C
Verified Purchase
Coach Cynthia
Chelsea, US
★★★★★ 5
Nice shoes
Size: 9, Color: Cognac
My Husband loves it 😍
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2026
A
Verified Purchase
Alston 34 Paerdegat 14 st
Draper, US
★★★★★ 4
I just need the size 12
Size: 12, Color: Tan
Gm.i made a mistake the first time when I order the size 13. I return it because it was to big .so I reorder a size 12 now am looking at my order they still sending me the same size 13 i will have to return it again because it is to big sorry I dont know what going
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 8, 2026
R
Verified Purchase
Rayan McLeod
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 3
Worth the price
Size: 10, Color: Tan
A little tie on the valley,
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 20, 2026
T
Verified Purchase
Thomas Micheal Bennett
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Good
Size: 9, Color: Black
Good good good
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 24, 2025

recommand products