The Age of Gold: The California Gold Rush and the New American Dream - Hardcover

Brands, H. W.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0385502168 ISBN 13: 9780385502160

Publisher: Doubleday, 2002

Synopsis

A history of the people and commercial imperatives that contributed to the California gold rush discusses the massive influx of hundreds of thousands of people to the area, which became a state in record time, in a volume set against the political climate and national issues of the period. 75,000 first printing.

About this title

Review:

"An engrossing, multifaceted history." -"The New York Times
"
"A barn burner. . . . Masterfully sketched historical figures, subtly developed themes, and epically well-braided stories. . . . There's only one thing to say . . . and that's 'Eureka!' " -"San Francisco Chronicle"
"Exuberant. . . . Entertaining, lively. . . . Brands [is] a wonderfully skilled narrative historian." -"Los Angeles Times"
"Highly readable and entertaining. . . . History titles loom large, and perhaps none larger than The Age of Gold." -"Houston Chronicle"
"A triumph. . . . Brands has struck gold." -"The Oregonian"
"[H. W. Brands] will change the way you see history. . . . The Age of Gold brilliantly pans the historical record for nuggets of hardship and, in the process, hits upon a mother lode of a story." -"Austin American-Statesman"
"Gripping. . . . Thoroughly researched. . . . An eminently readable, detail-filled book." -"Chicago Tribune
"
"A serious, comprehensive study, filled with memorable visions and interesting observations. . . . A book that explores history, politics, geology, adventure and industry with omnibus enthusiasm. . . . Its author, like the miners of the gold rush themselves, leaves no stone unturned." -"The San Diego Union-Tribune"
"A fine, robust telling of one of the greatest adventure stories in history." -David McCullough, Pulitzer Prize--winning author of John Adams
"Brands assembles a colorful collection of people swept into this craze from around the world . . . in[to] a dazzling setting that conveys the world-changing effects of this era. . . . [He is a] master storyteller." -"The Christian Science Monitor"
"Few historians can tell a tale better than Brands." -"Dallas Morning News"
"Populated with colorful California characters. . . . Brands makes a convincing case that the discovery of gold was a seminal event in American history." -"Boston Herald
""Fascinating. . . . Brands brings the era and its characters to life in a remarkably entertaining narrative that is meticulously researched and crisply written. . . . The Age of Gold""is historical reporting at its best." -"Arizona Daily Star"

An engrossing, multifaceted history. The New York Times

A barn burner. . . . Masterfully sketched historical figures, subtly developed themes, and epically well-braided stories. . . . There s only one thing to say . . . and that s Eureka! San Francisco Chronicle
Exuberant. . . . Entertaining, lively. . . . Brands [is] a wonderfully skilled narrative historian. Los Angeles Times
Highly readable and entertaining. . . . History titles loom large, and perhaps none larger than The Age of Gold. Houston Chronicle
A triumph. . . . Brands has struck gold. The Oregonian
[H. W. Brands] will change the way you see history. . . . The Age of Gold brilliantly pans the historical record for nuggets of hardship and, in the process, hits upon a mother lode of a story. Austin American-Statesman
Gripping. . . . Thoroughly researched. . . . An eminently readable, detail-filled book. Chicago Tribune

A serious, comprehensive study, filled with memorable visions and interesting observations. . . . A book that explores history, politics, geology, adventure and industry with omnibus enthusiasm. . . . Its author, like the miners of the gold rush themselves, leaves no stone unturned. The San Diego Union-Tribune
A fine, robust telling of one of the greatest adventure stories in history. David McCullough, Pulitzer Prize winning author of John Adams
Brands assembles a colorful collection of people swept into this craze from around the world . . . in[to] a dazzling setting that conveys the world-changing effects of this era. . . . [He is a] master storyteller. The Christian Science Monitor
Few historians can tell a tale better than Brands. Dallas Morning News
Populated with colorful California characters. . . . Brands makes a convincing case that the discovery of gold was a seminal event in American history. Boston Herald
Fascinating. . . . Brands brings the era and its characters to life in a remarkably entertaining narrative that is meticulously researched and crisply written. . . . The Age of Gold is historical reporting at its best. Arizona Daily Star"

"An engrossing, multifaceted history." --The New York Times

"A barn burner. . . . Masterfully sketched historical figures, subtly developed themes, and epically well-braided stories. . . . There's only one thing to say . . . and that's 'Eureka!' " --San Francisco Chronicle

"Exuberant. . . . Entertaining, lively. . . . Brands [is] a wonderfully skilled narrative historian." --Los Angeles Times

"Highly readable and entertaining. . . . History titles loom large, and perhaps none larger than The Age of Gold." --Houston Chronicle

"A triumph. . . . Brands has struck gold." --The Oregonian

"[H. W. Brands] will change the way you see history. . . . The Age of Gold brilliantly pans the historical record for nuggets of hardship and, in the process, hits upon a mother lode of a story." --Austin American-Statesman

"Gripping. . . . Thoroughly researched. . . . An eminently readable, detail-filled book." --Chicago Tribune

"A serious, comprehensive study, filled with memorable visions and interesting observations. . . . A book that explores history, politics, geology, adventure and industry with omnibus enthusiasm. . . . Its author, like the miners of the gold rush themselves, leaves no stone unturned." --The San Diego Union-Tribune

"A fine, robust telling of one of the greatest adventure stories in history." --David McCullough, Pulitzer Prize--winning author of John Adams

"Brands assembles a colorful collection of people swept into this craze from around the world . . . in[to] a dazzling setting that conveys the world-changing effects of this era. . . . [He is a] master storyteller." --The Christian Science Monitor

"Few historians can tell a tale better than Brands." --Dallas Morning News

"Populated with colorful California characters. . . . Brands makes a convincing case that the discovery of gold was a seminal event in American history." --Boston Herald

"Fascinating. . . . Brands brings the era and its characters to life in a remarkably entertaining narrative that is meticulously researched and crisply written. . . . The Age of Gold is historical reporting at its best." --Arizona Daily Star

From the Publisher:

The spellbinding, adventure-packed story of the Californian Gold Rush. An international bestseller for fans of Devil in the White City and Rose Tremain's The Colour.

'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

The discovery of gold in California in 1848 sparked a frenzy that shook the world. People swarmed to the gold fields from as far as China and Australia. They came by ship and overland, braving Tierra del Fuego and the pestilence of Panama, lured by the promise of riches. In a spellbinding narrative, HW Brands brings the fervour and excitement of the gold rush vividly to life.

At the heart of The Age of Gold is the story of Captain John Fremont, the flamboyant adventurer who "liberated" California from Mexico, only to find himself accused of mutiny. Fremont met his match in young Jessie Benton, a headstrong, fiercely intelligent Senator s daughter. Together, John and Jessie Fremont would play a fateful role in the drama unfolding on the gold fields as they lurched, like so many others, from financial ruin to astonishing riches. The California gold rush triggered the greatest mass movement of people since the crusades. It accelerated America s imperial expansion and exacerbated the tensions that would explode a decade later in the Civil War. But perhaps above all, it inspired a new American dream: the dream "of instant wealth, won by audacity and good luck."

'At once scholarly, witty and accessible, The Age of Gold organises global chaos into a vivid, comprehensivbel whole... It is hard to imagine a rangier or more entertaining guide to this period in American history.' Freya Johnson, Telegraph

'The extraordinary story of the California Gold Rush... In John and Jessie Fremont, a glamorous couple, Brands has found... the heroes of his tale.' Rose Tremain, Daily Mail

'Fascinating ... the detonator of the mining revolution which placed gold right at the centre of the world's wealth machine.' Paul Johnson, Literary Review

About this edition

• Publisher: Doubleday
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0385502168
• ISBN 13: 9780385502160
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 547