Ripe with history, juicy with anecdotes, and deliciously illustrated, author David Boulé will be in Santa Monica this Tuesday evening to present a talk on the history of the orange.
Known as the “Golden Fruit,” Boulé will discuss how it has come to be the symbol of a dream that is California in his book “The Orange and the Dream of California.”
The free talk will be held from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Annenberg Community Beach House.
In 176 full-color pages and more than 250 images, Boulé shares the fascinating story of the orange’s impact on the culture – historic, financial, and, yes, romance – of California. And at the same time, he will show and tell the vivid tale of citriculture – the complex and captivating world of growing the orange and its juicy cousins.
History lovers will marvel as Boulé traces the orange’s origins back to Southeast Asia, and links the roots of its influence on California all the way back to Califia, a fictional warrior queen whose name became bona fide history.
From its earliest days, the dream of California has been that it is a place of plenty, of potential, of personal opportunity.
Orange and California have built on one another for centuries to feed the imagination and conjure a compelling fantasy that nurtures our universal desire for beauty, health, enchantment, reinvention, and peace.
A third-generation Californian who has roots in both the southern and northern parts of the state, Boulé has a lifelong fascination with the history, culture, achievements, and uniqueness of his home state.
For decades he has scoured the country in pursuit of items and information relating to the California citrus industry.
A career in marketing communication has given him particular interest and insight into how the orange helped enhance the image of California.
His collection includes historic photographs, hundreds of postcards, rare advertising and marketing materials, books, newspapers and press clippings, records, posters, journals, and personal papers, along with many California orange-themed souvenirs and promotional items.
Materials from his citriculture collection have been featured in several museum and library exhibits, and he has frequently lectured on the topic.
The Annenberg Community Beach House is located at 415 Pacific Coast Highway in Santa Monica.
To reserve your space for this free event, register at www.eventbrite.com/e/angel-city-press-the-orange-the-dream-of-california-with-david-boule-tickets-10917798429.
For more information on the event, call 310.458.4904 or email BeachHouse@smgov.net. For more information about the book, visit www.angelcitypress.com/products/orng.
