California Gold [Audiobook, Abridged] [Audio Cassette]

John Jakes (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 1989

Jakes's biggest bestseller yet is a panoramic saga of one man's fortune and fate in the "promised land" of California during 1870-1913. 2 cassettes.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

California, supposedly "the world's paradigm of hope and opportunity," is Jakes's ( North and South ) setting for this moderately satisfying novel about Mack Chance, an underdog whose ascent from poverty to affluence is a classic American success story. Like so many ambitious dreamers, Mack, an indigent Pennsylvanian, arrives in San Francisco in 1887 determined to make his fortune. To his dismay, he finds hardship, violence, bigotry, lawlessness and a city caught in the stranglehold of rapacious Southern Pacific railroad tycoons. Mack meets two bewitching women--rich, emotionally unstable Carla Hellman and dynamic Nellie Ross, a reporter for W. R. Hearst's San Francisco Examiner. After striking oil and becoming an orange grower, Mack prospers, but is left heartbroken when career-oriented Nellie won't marry him. He impulsively weds Carla, with disastrous results, while alienating many influential men by championing liberal causes. With strong commercial appeal, the novel potently conveys the raw, irrepressible vitality of California, but the historical backdrop (especially the 1906 earthquake) outshines the conventional rags-to-riches plot. Jakes's impressive research, plus his lively depictions of Hearst, Ambrose Bierce, Leland Stanford, Teddy Roosevelt and others, enriches the story considerably. Literary Guild main selection; Readers Digest Condensed Book main selection; major ad/promo.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From the Inside Flap

Jakes's biggest bestseller yet is a panoramic saga of one man's fortune and fate in the "promised land" of California during 1870-1913. 2 cassettes.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: Random House Audio; Abridged edition (September 23, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0394577329
• ISBN-13: 978-0394577326
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,025,430 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Historical Novel!, December 1, 2000

By 

Melvin Hunt (Cleveland,, Texas United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: California Gold (Mass Market Paperback)

This was certainly a book that you could enjoy. This book also gave you a good picture of the history of California. This book chronicles the rise from poverty to massive riches for a young man from Pennylsvania. He first grows immensely wealthy by taking part in the oil industry of California. From making big money in petroleum he moves into the citrus industry. He is able to continue making money in the citrus business. His next step is in water rights. This novel also tells of some of his lady loves that he becomes familiar with. Also interesting is some of the potent enemies that he gets in the state of California. This is a good depiction of wealth and power gained in the Golden State. If you read this book you will read a good story as well as get a good history of the state of California. It is also very unique the way that John Jakes uses some historical figures from these days in this story. Read this book,you will not be dissapointed.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Addictive Page Turner, June 26, 2000

By 

Erin Moore - See all my reviews

This review is from: California Gold (Mass Market Paperback)

California Gold has it all! Lust, greed, amition, and historical tie-ins all in one! I have read and re-read this wonderful work of fiction 6 times at last count. I never become bored with it. In fact, some of the book's fabulous historical references have even lead me on some great adventures as a tourist in both San Francisco and the Los Angeles area.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The First Jakes Book I Have Read, April 27, 2006

By 

NASCARLadybug (TN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: California Gold (Hardcover)

What a wonderful history lesson in this fiction novel. Jakes blends the history of California and throughout the book as well as at the back, he verifies actual historical dates.

The story allowed me to understand more Sutter's Fort, the gold rush country, San Francisco and the places in and around Sacremento, Donner's Pass to Squaw Valley that I have visited.

I look forward to reading more of Mr. Jakes books.