California Gold

A Novel

By: John Jakes

Narrated by: Shawn Compton

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

story and performance!

long book but was hooked from the first page to the end. well worth the time and an interesting plot

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

California

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

Interweaving history with the fiction.

This book was planned by the author to write before his Civil War novels. He writes in author omniscient voice but one is led to sympathy for the protagonist. Jakes seems to like the fighting man who has a self-centered ambitious attitude, but also a humanistic streak. I liked his inclusion of Yosemite and the whole state. He focuses on the Southern Pacific Railroad. His relationship with his son and Nellie were old-fashioned, but maybe typical for the time. I have read it twice and consider it a favorite for late 19th-early 20th century California setting, a time my ancestors lived in California.

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!

Good historical context

As a Bay Area resident for most of my life, I heard so many mispronunciations of names of cities and places. It took away from the author

Lots of history!

A true historical fiction, enjoyed learning so much about how San Francisco and Los Angeles came to be. Thought I was going to read one more book about the gold rush and was pleasantly surprised to find that the story actually begins after it.

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.

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.

entertaining

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