St. James Park: A Book Talk with John Doll (San Jose)

Submitted by the Event Organizer

Set in the Great Depression, St. James Park is a fast-paced, cinematic novel rooted in San Jose history. Based on actual events of the 1933 Brooke Hart kidnapping, the novel is a portrait of San Jose’s labor unrest, government corruption and anti-immigrant racism. The book resonates strongly with themes of social justice, media manipulation, community identity and mob violence—issues that still echo today. It is very much a noir of Santa Clara Valley nearly a century ago—long before the orchards were plowed under and paved over.

The book presentation will include a photographic slideshow that reflect the historic context of the kidnapping and its aftermath.

John Doll is a third generation San Josean who grew up listening to his Italian-American mother and grandparents’ memories, rumors and confessions about that one gruesome November night in 1933.

Copies of the novel will be available for purchase.

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