Age of Gold

For fans of Niall Ferguson and William Dalrymple comes 'A fine, robust telling of one of the greatest adventure stories in history.' - David McCullough, Pulitzer prize-winning author of John Adams 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. Endorsements from Stephen Ambrose, John Julius Norwich and David McCullough: 'A riveting story, told by a born writer. What more could one ask?' - John Julius Norwich 'Big, brassy, raucous - The Age of Gold tells of dreams made and dashed, great destinies forged, and of endlessly fascinating heroes, scoundrels and misfits-Terrific.' - Jay Winik, author of April 1865 'Fascinating stories that transcend the mundane and take us to new levels of the human experience. What a story it is to tell. Brands tells it superbly.' - Stephen E. Ambrose, author of D Day and Band of Brothers 'A gripping narrative account of the mad rush for California riches. Brimming with unforgettable anecdotes and vivid prose, Brands beams the reader back to a time when anything seemed possible. A real page turner.' - Douglas Brinkley Author Bio: - 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 andM University.