The Gold Rush (The West) [Paperback]

Liza Ketchum (Author), Stephen Ives (Introduction), Ken Burns (Introduction)

Book Description

Series: The West

This text is one of three companion volumes for young readers to the PBS television documentary "The West", by filmmakers Ken Burns, Stephen Ives and Geoffrey C. Ward, who also collaborated on "The Civil War" series. Before 1848, only a few non-Indian people lived in the West. But a tiny nugget of gold, no bigger than a dime, discovered on January 24th, 1848, changed the history of the West, and of America, forever. Drawn by the promise of instant riches, thousands of people from all corners of the world flocked to the goldfields, the largest migration in the country's history. For many, the gold rush would only lead to loss - of money, of health, even of life. But for others it would prove to be an adventure, a chance to create a whole new world. Drawing on source material, this text tells the story of those who left everything behind for the chance to strike it rich - and those whose lives were changed irrevocably by their coming.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 6 Up?These three books, based on the PBS series, could essentially be incorporated into one volume. Prior knowledge of the West and its history may be helpful; however, the material is so well presented and illustrated (chiefly with archival photographs and reproductions) that novices, scholars, or browsers can dip in anywhere and emerge with useful impressions and/or information. While some of the same ground is covered in a multitude of titles, the presentation is fresh and greatly enlivened by the visuals that appear on every page. For example, The West includes a shot of the copper smelter in Butte, MT, and the statement that surrounding hills were stripped of trees for fuel to fire the furnaces?this happened in many of the mining towns. In addition, coverage is not limited to the famous folks usually written about; instead, photo coverage is given to real people of various ethnic groups. These volumes are a real achievement; they are sure to inform, entertain, and invite further investigation on the subject.?George Gleason, Department of English, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 118 pages
• Publisher: Little Brown and Company; First edition. edition (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0316490474
• ISBN-13: 978-0316490474
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,644,907 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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