The Age of Gold by H W Brands
The discovery of gold by a team of Mormon mill workers in 1848 sparked a frenzy that shook the world. People swarmed to California from as far as China and Australia. They came from England and France, from Ireland and Chile, leaving behind their families and everything they owned in the hope of making their fortunes in the new world. They came by ship and overland, braving Tierra del Fuego and the pestilences of Panama, lured by the promise of gold. In a spellbinding narrative that spans several continents, Brands brings the fervour and excitement of the gold rush vividly to life. The Age of Gold is narrative history at its best -- the astonishing tale of one of the most extraordinary speculative frenzies in history, told by a master historian.
"'The extraordinary story of the California Gold Rush.. In John and Jesse Fremont, a glamorous couple, HW Brands has found his...heroes of the tale... These epic expeditions, in their demonstration of human tenacity and courage, mirror many others cataloged here... A spellbinding tale.'" -- Rose Tremain Daily Mail "'H.W. Brands interweaves individual lives to create one great adventure story, more action-packed than any Western movie ... he builds a gripping picture of an extraordinary moment in history' " The Sunday Telegraph "'At once scholarly, witty and accessible, The Age of Gold organises global chaos in to a vivid, comprehensible whole ... it is hard to imagine a rangier or more entertaining guide to this period of American history'" Daily Telegraph "A riveting story, told by a born writer" -- John Julius Norwich "Captivating and vivid... Brands' splendid book captures much of the flavour of this desperate adventure, which featured spectacular winners and losers... Superb" -- Frank McLynn Guardian
H. W. Brands is the author of The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin, shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize, the Los Angeles Times Book Award and a New York Times bestseller. He is Distinguished Professor and holder of the Melburn G. Glasscock Chair in American History at Texas A&M University.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780434013203 |
| ISBN 10 | 043401320X |
| Title | The Age of Gold |
| Author | H W Brands |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Cornerstone |
| Year published | 2005-04-07 |
| Number of pages | 560 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |