Robert W. Righter is Research Professor of History at Southern Methodist University
Review
"Tragedy the philosopher Hegel tells us can come from the clash of competing goods. In this thoroughly researched elegantly written and even-handed history Robert Righter chronicles how alternative views of Americas future - urbanism versus the preservation of the environment -- collidedat Hetch Hetchy Valley. The founding of cities inevitably involves a sacrifice of environment. In losing the Hetch Hetchy Valley America more than paid its price to bring into being metropolitan San Francisco."--Kevin Starr author of the Americans and the California Dream series