Amazon.com reviews of Louis Rose: San Diego's First Jewish Settler and Entrepreneur by Donald H. Harrison.

A great resource and tribute to San Diego history..., January 27, 2005

I found this book to be extremely enjoyable and fascinating to read. As I love reading about history in general, I found this book particularly interesting living in San Diego. The combination of vivid details and factual research made me feel as though I had embarked on a journey through time in San Diego's early history. This book give you a real-life perspective on how we got to be where we are today.—Eric S, San Diego

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A Rose by no name other than Louis, San Diego Early Pioneer, December 19, 2004

Reviewer:  Skeptical Optimist "Wordsmith" (La Jolla, California) .

San Diego promoted, as America's "Finest City" is less well known as the site of Rose Canyon. Those few who are familiar with the geography might also know that this geographic locale is also a vulnerable earthquake fault. Still less are aware that this region is named after a Jewish pioneer who made significant contributions to the birth of the metropolis which we now know as San Diego.

Donald Harrison, former editor of the award winning "Heritage" in a commendable achievement of scholarship, historical research and some informed speculation offers the reader an extremely readable odyssey of Louis Rose. Rose migrated from Germany through Louisiana, Texas and eventually San Diego.

Harrison's maxim, "There is a Jewish story everywhere" is once again confirmed. Even in the very early formative years of what was once an inaccessible outpost of California, Rose was an influential relentless businessman and city planner. Although the narrative framework is the biography of Rose, it is significantly much more. Harrison's detailed correlation of the events of Rose's time makes possible a deep understanding of the personalities, situations and the environment which impacted the formation of San Diego.

Persons who were Hebrew or Jewish are not usually the image one considers when thinking of American pioneers. The author puts an end to this oversight. At the same time, biographer Harrison's detailed narrative brings to the reader political and social aspects of the mid 1800s (Louis Rose arrived in San Diego in 1851--sic, 1850) which undoubtedly will provide interested historians links to even deeper understanding of early San Diego and the beginnings of a Jewish community there.

"Mitzuyon" (Excellent: Hebrew).