The Monterey coast, home to an acclaimed aquarium and the setting for
John Steinbeck's classic novel Cannery Row, was also the stage for a
historical junction of industry and tourism. Shaping the Shoreline
looks at the ways in which Monterey has formed, and been formed by, the
tension between labor and leisure.
Connie Y. Chiang examines Monterey's development from a seaside resort
into a working-class fishing town and, finally, into a tourist
attraction again. Through the subjects of work, recreation, and
environment -- the intersections of which are applicable to communities
across the United States and abroad -- she documents the struggles and
contests over this magnificent coastal region. By tracing Monterey's
shift from what was once the literal Cannery Row to an iconic hub that
now houses an aquarium in which nature is replicated to attract
tourists, the interactions of people with nature continues to change.
Drawing on histories of immigration, unionization, and the impact of
national and international events, Chiang explores the reciprocal
relationship between social and environmental change. By integrating
topics such as race, ethnicity, and class into environmental history,
Chiang illustrates the idea that work and play are not mutually
exclusive endeavors.