In his new book, Wicked Sacramento, local author and historian William Burg chronicles past events of the city’s historic West End neighborhood during the early 1900s. During this era, the district was an area deemed full of malignant vice. Certain corrupt activities in the vicinity included bootlegging, gambling and sex work. While the text delves into the wickedness of such exercises, the depravity involving racism, prejudice and a thievery of the neighborhood’s authenticity are explored as well. Wicked Sacramento introduces readers to “The Queen of the Sacramento Tenderloin,” Cherry de Saint Maurice and the nightclub owner who first brought jazz to town, Grant “Skewball” Cross, among other notable figures during the time. To purchase on Amazon for Kindle, the price is $12.99 and the paperback is $19.34. According to a post from Burg’s Facebook, the book is back-ordered on Amazon, but if you’d like to get the text before then and meet the author, there are upcoming events in Sacramento you can attend—Black and Tan Sacramento: Civil Rights and Activism in the West End, Sunday, July 7, 3 p.m. at Carol’s Books (1913 Del Paso Blvd.); Saturday, July 13, 6 p.m., Autonomous Love Boutique (2419 J St.); Thursday, July 25, 7 p.m. at Time Tested Books (1114 21st St.); Wednesday, July 31, 6 p.m. at Sol Collective (2574 21st St.); and Saturday, Aug. 3, 2 p.m. at Underground Books (2814 35th St.).
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