The Californios: The Heroic Deed Of The Sonoran Basques

This historical novel is the work of Carlos Peralta Dávila, a lawyer from Hermosillo and a dear friend of over 40 years.

The Californios tells the story of a character born in 1759 in Tubac, Arizona, who was part of colonial Sonora. Luis María Peralta Valenzuela was a decorated military man known for his loyalty, discipline, integrity, and bravery. He was part of the famous ’Spanish leather dragons’ and joined Captain Juan Bautista de Anza Jr. on the second expedition to Alta California at the age of 17. Peralta played a key role in founding San Francisco and other progressive cities around the Bay.

The story presents a significant moment in the history of Spain, Mexico, and the United States, which is worth being known by the new generations of the three countries.

The plot achieves an excellent balance between fiction and history, alternating adventure, romance, politics, and armed conflicts. It particularly focuses on what is known today as ’the Golden State, ’ although it also touches on diverse locations around the world. This combination keeps the reader engaged from the first page to the last.

Historian José Rómulo Félix Gastélum Sociedad Sonorense de Historia, A.C., Hermosillo, Sonora.