Imperial

For generations of migrant workers and immigrants looking for a better future, Imperial County has held the promise of the American dream; however, frequently, the reality of life in the region is harsh and unforgiving. In "Imperial," award-winning writer William T. Vollman draws from ten years of first-hand experience, research, and interviews to present a comprehensive account of Imperial, its storied and uniquely-American history, and the people who struggle to build a brighter tomorrow there. Vollmann pinpoints allocation of water and the transformation of homesteads into factories as turning points in the history of the county, and he examines the contrasts between Imperial's past and present.