Elsa Devienne takes us behind the iconic beaches of Los Angeles to reveal a hidden history of transformation, conflict, and reinvention. The author of “Sand Rush,” Devienne talks to me about how L.A.’s shores went from eroding, polluted strips in the 1920s and ’30s to expansive public spaces that defined the city’s image and culture. It was a time when government could actually change a city.

With echoes of “Chinatown,” Devienne also offers insights into today’s wealth-driven fights over coastal access.

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