Jean Stein

Author

Jean Stein was an American author, editor and oral historian who was one of the most distinctive non-fiction voices in American literature. West of Eden is an oral history of five families whose stories illuminate the history, culture and mythology of Los Angeles from its earliest days through the golden age of Hollywood and beyond.... Stein's technique of weaving together multiple voices and perspectives creates a kaleidoscopic portrait of a city built on dreams, ambition and reinvention. She was also the author of Edie, a celebrated oral biography of Edie Sedgwick, and served as editor of the literary journal Grand Street. Her work pioneered a literary approach to oral history that influenced generations of writers. Her audiobooks and books offer readers innovative, deeply researched accounts of American culture and its defining landscapes. She died in 2017. Read more Show less