The City That Was: A Requiem of Old San Francisco

Name: The City That Was: A Requiem of Old San Francisco
Author: Will Irwin

By Will Irwin

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History - American

About This Book

An elegiac newspaper essay portrays San Francisco after a devastating calamity, mourning a vanished city while tracing the landscape, climate, and daily life that gave it character. It evokes the bay, surrounding hills and Mount Tamalpais, the terrace-like rise of neighborhoods, and the wood-built, bow-windowed streets. It sketches the mild, foggy climate that favored outdoor living and year-round light clothing, the seasonal cycle of green and golden hills, and the mixture of romantic charm and modern commercial growth. The author foresees rebuilding but insists the city’s intimate, pleasure-loving atmosphere has been irretrievably altered.

About the Author

Will Irwin

Will Irwin was an American author and journalist known for his vivid portrayals of urban life and social issues in the early 20th century. His notable work, "The City That Was: A Requiem of Old San Francisco," reflects on the transformation of San Francisco following the 1906 earthquake, capturing the essence of a city in flux. Irwin also explored themes of mysticism and the supernatural in his writing, as seen in "The House of Mystery: An Episode in the Career of Rosalie Le Grange, Clairvoyant." His contributions to literature provide insight into the cultural and social dynamics of his time.