The Bamboo Garden, the 1923 Fire and an Unlikely Friendship
On September 17, 1923, the strong, dry Diablo winds from the east were in full effect when a fire erupted just east of the Berkeley Hills ridge line near Wildcat Canyon. The fire quickly swept over the hill and down into the heart of Berkeley. In a matter of hours, more than 600 buildings were destroyed.
The Berkeley Historical Society’s current exhibit, The 1923 Fire: Berkeley’s First Wildfire Disaster, focuses on that fire and its impact on Berkeley. In her novel The Bamboo Garden, local author Susan Austin captures the fire in dramatic detail—as she focuses on the experiences of the daughter of a professor, the daughter of the professor’s Japanese maid, and a meddling neighbor. At the end of the day, the fire transforms not only Berkeley, but the lives of these three young people.
The author will read from her novel, discuss the effect of the 1923 fire on the city, and describe the Japanese-American experience of the time.
Hot cider and cookies will be served in the lobby after the talk, and the book will be available for purchase and author signings. Linda Rosen will also be present to sign copies of Tempered by Fire: History of the Berkeley Fire Department. Books make good gifts! Some titles will be discounted in our annual holiday book sale the same day.
The program, book sale and book signings will be in the museum room, open from 1 to 4 pm.