Rush, The

The story of the gold rush is American history on fast-forward. In a frenzied five-year span, crucial themes - movement west, the belief in luck and pluck and a fresh start, clashing of cultures, a focus on material success - all burst forth in a fever whose aftereffects the country is still shaking off. Drawing upon a rich trove of diaries and letters, award-winning writer Edward Dolnick tells a story of the gold rush that is more intimate and engaging than any previous account. With an enthralling cast of characters and scenes of unimaginable wealth and desperate ruin, The Rush is a fascinating - and rollicking - telling of the greatest treasure hunt the world has ever known. This new history of the California gold rush is a great addition to any fortune-seeker's library. 16 pages of b/w and color plates. Hardbound w/dustjacket: 351 pages: 6.25 x 9.5"