California Gold

A Novel

By: John Jakes

Narrated by: Shawn Compton

Length: 31 hrs and 25 mins

Publisher's summary

A "riveting...sweeping epic" of one man driven by gold fever, by the number one New York Times best-selling author of North and South. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

At the height of California's Gold Rush, men left everything behind for the chance at striking it rich. Now, some 30 years after its peak, gold fever still entices adventurous Easterners like James Macklin Chance, a poor Pennsylvanian who is drawn to California by the dream of lasting wealth - a dream so powerful he'll stop at nothing to see it through.

Along the way he'll encounter grand passion, ruthless enemies, and larger-than-life titans like Leland Stanford, Theodore Roosevelt, and William Randolph Hearst, who helped shape a country's destiny.

©1989 John Jakes (P)2020 Tantor

Great story of CA history.

John Jakes wrote an interesting novel based on real events with a fictional lead character. I read the book about 5 years ago and when I listened to Shawn Compton's narration the characters came to life. Fantastic narration along with a well written story. If you want to learn about history this is the way to do it!

California

I am from California, and I thought it was a wonderful book! I totally enjoyed reading Historical fiction about California.

A Well Crafted Tale

An amazing fictional account of the developmental years of California.
John Jake's spins a fictional but all too true story. Masterful character creation, and genius weaving of true love characters and events
A MUST LISTEN

entertaining

great story. lively characters and wonderful plot. it is a must read for sure. get it

Fantastic!

The story, the narration, the interweaving of history - all were fantastic. I really enjoyed the depth of the story and getting to know the main characters and the others. It was like I was there in the story.

Thoroughly enjoyed

Although it is long, I thoroughly enjoyed listening the fictional story of James Macklin Chase, his dreams, challenges, triumphs, and, yes, the different facets of his personality over time at the end of the 1800s-beginning of the 1900s. Because I lived in California, and later in Nevada (I still visit those areas sporadically), John Jakes’ lucid description of sights and cities fondly transported me to the places I called home for 24 years. I trust other readers will find pleasure listening to this book.

BORING

After waiting two days for a successful download it was not worth the wait. Boring reader, boring story, Just boring.

Snooze fest white washed not accurate

This has to be one of the cheesiest white washed inaccurate baloney Histroical fiction books I’ve ever read. It’s not historically accurate. It romanticizes western history. It glorifies west ward expansion. It’s total rubbish. Unbelievable rubbish.

Too Long, Too Many Cameos

it was a struggle to finish reading. I had to rely on the audio to plow through to the end; however, it was annoying that the narrator mispronounced many words particularly place names. To me, it was also annoying that the protagonist crossed path with every notable Californian of this era.

Started off good...

Ive enjoyed Jakes other books, but this one was a snoozer. It started off intriguing then quickly lost steam. I quit after 8 hours.