Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.Sample Book Insights: #1 The name California was derived from a Spanish novel that was published in 1510. The novel chronicled the adventures of Esplandián, a son of the hero Amadis of Gaul, at the siege of Constantinople. Esplandián’s allies at the siege were the Californians, a race of black Amazons under the command of Queen Calafia.#2 The American state of California is located between latitude 42 degrees north and latitude 32 degrees north. On a clear day, California appears as a serene palette of blue, green, brown, white, and red. However, this apparent serenity masks a titanic drama occurring beneath the surface.#3 The landscape of California is a mosaic of stark contrasts, vibrant and volatile with the geological forces that shaped the western edge of the continent. Coastal California, where settlement began and maintains its greatest density, sustains a variety of salubrious climates.#4 California is a distinct bioregion due to its water and climate. It is a island on the land, sealed off by the Pacific, the Sierra Nevada, the Klamath and Cascade ranges in the north, and the Mojave Desert in the southeast.