Talbot - Season of the witch : enchantment, terror and deliverance in the city of love

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In a kaleidoscopic narrative, bestselling author David Talbot recounts the gripping story of San Francisco in the turbulent years between 1967 and 1982and of the extra-ordinary men and women who led to the citys ultimate rebirth and triumph.

Season of the Witch is the first book to fully capture the dark magic of San Francisco in this breathtaking period, when the city radically changed itselfand then revolutionized the world. The cool gray city of love was the epicenter of the 1960s cultural revolution. But by the early 1970s, San Franciscos ecstatic experiment came crashing down from its starry heights. The city was rocked by savage murder sprees, mysterious terror campaigns, political assassinations, street riots, and finally a terrifying sexual epidemic. No other city endured so many calamities in such a short time span.

David Talbot takes us deep into the riveting story of his citys ascent, decline, and heroic recovery. He draws intimate portraits of San Franciscos legendary demons and saviors: Charles Manson, Patty Hearst and the Symbionese Liberation Army, Jerry Garcia, Janis Joplin, Bill Graham, Herb Caen, the Cockettes, Harvey Milk, Jim Jones and the Peoples Temple, Joe Montana and the Super Bowl 49ers. He reveals how the city emerged from the trials of this period with a new brand of San Francisco values, including gay marriage, medical marijuana, immigration sanctuary, universal health care, recycling, renewable energy, consumer safety, and a living wage mandate. Considered radical when they were first introduced, these ideas have become the bedrock of decent society in many parts of the country, and exemplify the ways that the city now inspires us toward a live-and-let-live tolerance, a shared sense of humanity, and an openness to change.

As a new generation of activists and dreamers seeks its own path to a more enlightened future, Season of the Witch with its epic tale of the wild and bloody birth of San Francisco valuesoffers both inspiration and cautionary wisdom.

PRAISE FOR

SEASON OF THE WITCH

A fresh, fun, vigorous look at a strange American city David Talbot knows well and loves with irony.

OLIVER STONE

As a phenomenally intuitive journalist, editor, and culture critic, David Talbot has not only channeled the Zeitgeist but helped make it.

CAMILLE PAGLIA, bestselling author and culture critic

Talbot is a great storyteller. He writes like an angel and has a reporters passion for the truth. Describing people I knew, I can say that Talbot has perfect pitch, but he has also introduced me to others as thrilling as sin. He got it all just right and gets closer to describing the lusty, languorous, glamorous, and sometimes lethal Saint named Francisco than anyone I know. The book overflows with gifts. Im in awe of it.

PETER COYOTE, author of SLEEPING WHERE I FALL

In this wonderful book, Talbot tells the stories deep in San Franciscos loric landscape, from its cultural greatness to the slides into madness. He explores its volcanic originality with awe and respect. An unforgettable history.

TOM HAYDEN, author of THE LONG SIXTIES

An ambitious, labor-of-love illumination of a citys soul, celebrating the uniqueness of San Francisco without minimizing the price paid for the citys free-spiritedness... Talbot takes the reader much deeper than clich, exploring a San Francisco that tourists never discover.

KIRKUS REVIEWS (STARRED REVIEW)

Exhaustive research yields penetrating character studies... In exhilarating fashion, Talbot clears the rainbow mist and brings San Francisco into sharp focus.

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (STARRED REVIEW)

SIBYLLA HERBRICH

DAVID TALBOT , author of the New York Times bestseller Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years, is the founder of Salon. He lives in San Francisco.

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JACKET DESIGN BY KELLY FRANKENY

JACKET PHOTOGRAPH KALMAN MULLER

COPYRIGHT 2012 SIMON & SCHUSTER

ALSO BY DAVID TALBOT

Brothers: The Hidden History of the Kennedy Years

Devil Dog: The Amazing True Story of the Man Who Saved America

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Copyright 2012 by David Talbot

All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information, address Free Press Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.

First Free Press hardcover edition May 2012

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Talbot, David

Season of the witch : enchantment, terror, and deliverance in the city of love / David Talbot.1st Free Press hardcover ed.

p. cm.

1. San Francisco (Calif.)Social conditions20th century. 2. San Francisco (Calif.)History20th century. 3. San Francisco (Calif.)Biography. 4. San Francisco (Calif.)Social life and customs20th century. 5. City and town lifeCaliforniaSan FranciscoHistory20th century. 6. Culture conflictCaliforniaSan FranciscoHistory20th century. 7. Social problemsCaliforniaSan FranciscoHistory20th century. 8. Social changeCaliforniaSan FranciscoHistory20th century. 9. Political cultureCaliforniaSan FranciscoHistory20th century. 10. CountercultureCaliforniaSan FranciscoHistory20th century. I. Title.

HN80.S4T35 2012

306.09794'610904dc23 2011032082

ISBN 978-1-4391-0821-5
ISBN 978-1-4391-2787-2 (ebook)

To Camille, who helped me finally and fully love San Francisco, while I was falling in love with her. And to the entire Peri family, the Italian-Irish-Greek clan that brought the citys history to life for me. And to my sons, Joseph and Nathaniel, who are making their own San Francisco history.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

B OOKS ARE FEATS OF enterprise as well as creativity. As always, I was mightily assisted in this endeavor by my work partner, Karen Croft, who brainstormed editorial strategies, managed the projects finances, arranged difficult interviews, helped me go spelunking through library caverns, read early drafts of the manuscript, and performed numerous other essential tasks.