"Starr King in California" is a biography centered on the life of William King, also known as Starr King, during the mid-19th century. It primarily chronicles his arrival in California during the Gold Rush era, his establishment as a Unitarian minister in San Francisco, and his active involvement in the social and educational reform movements of the time. The narrative emphasizes his personal journey from the established East Coast Unitarian community to the challenging, untamed landscape of California, highlighting his efforts to adapt his religious and reform ideals to the new environment. The book portrays him not just as a minister, but as a significant figure in the early civic and intellectual life of the young state, grappling with the rapid changes and moral questions arising from the Gold Rush and westward expansion.