Its history filled with more larger-than-life characters and colorful stories than most cities twice its age, San Francisco has always gloried as much in the past as in the present. Published nearly 50 years ago and now available in paperback for the first time, This Is San Francisco is an affectionate, lively, carefully researched chronicle of the city from its inception to the end of World War II, as well as an unabashedly romantic portrait of its streets, neighborhoods, and people. Covering every part of the city, from the Embarcadero to Russian Hill, from Cow Hollow to Cliff House, this engaging, evocative volume opens the door for a new generation to San Francisco's rich and unforgettable past.