Francine Prose Remembers 1970s San Francisco: A Nostalgic Look Back

In a recent podcast, author Francine Prose reminisces about her time in 1970s San Francisco. She paints a picture of a city before the tech boom, where the Mission District was wild and free. Prose describes artists carving out spaces in the Reno Hotel, a former boxer's residence, and recounts her involvement in anti-war protests, including her husband's daring climb of the Pentagon. The narrative evokes a strong sense of nostalgia for the idealism and freedom of the era, drawing intriguing parallels to her favorite film, Alfred Hitchcock's *Vertigo*.