Where I was from /
Joan Didion.
- London : Harper Perennial, 2004.
- 226 pages ; 20 cm
Where I Was From is a nonfiction book published in 2003 by American writer and journalist Joan Didion. In this work, Didion explores her family history and the history, culture, and identity of California, the state where she was born and raised.
The author examines how California developed from a region associated with farming and westward expansion into a wealthy and influential state. She questions popular beliefs about California, particularly the ideas of independence, self-reliance, and the promise of a better life in the West.
Didion combines personal memories, historical research, and cultural criticism to explain how family stories and collective myths influence people's understanding of their past. She also discusses the roles of government funding, economic development, railroads, and the aerospace industry in shaping California's growth.
Throughout the book, Didion reflects on the difference between the history people believe and the historical evidence. She suggests that the identity of a place is often built not only on facts but also on stories that people repeat and accept over time.