Customer Reviews

Money Mountain: The Story of Cripple Creek Gold

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I don't know where I got this book, but at whim I just picked it off my bookshelf. I was not particularly interested in Colorado, or gold mining, but this well-researched history of the Cripple Creek district was so well written, that I just couldn't put it down. This book was written 50 years ago, but Marshall Sprague's style is so crisp, so fresh, it reads like it was written yesterday. He has a real knack for chapter-ending punchlines.

There is only one "problem" with the book. It seems so contemporary, that when I read such statistics as the price of gold, and they were off by hundreds of dollars, I had to remind myself that the book was indeed a half century old. The author died in 1994. I am sorry I cannot tell him how his writing shines. I plan to read other titles of his.

In June 2010, I visited Colorado and the area around Colorado Springs for the first time in my life. I came away with a boatload of stories for my friends. Earlier in my life, I lived in Texas for 30 years and was absolutely convinced that it is big. Well, I'm here to tell you, Colorado is also BIG. The friend I was visiting took me to the Florisant area, then on to Cripple Creek (which I know from an old folk song, quoted in the book) and Victor. I was so fascinated with the culture and the geography, the friend found me the original 1953 edition of this book and had it sent tome when I got back to my current home in New Hampshire. What a great tale. And what a great writing style this character has. He's pure journalist when he needs to be (and I'm talking a mid-20th century, Hemmingwayesque journalistic style, not the contemporary stuff). He's the reader's friend all the time, building to and asking the reader's questions. And he never loses his sense of humor about the shenanigans some of these wild west characters get into. It pulls a lot of the facts I was showered with on my short, 5-day, visit together. I also appreciate having much deeper insight into the origins of the late 19th century American labor movements. I've often seen it skimmed in histories with a one-sentence brush off, "the origins of the American labor movement were in the western mines." Boom. No explanation. No elaboration. Here are the facts. All the reasons, large and historical, petty and personal. And the author never violates his journalistic neutrality on the subject. Excellent work. A book that does exactly what it sets out to do.

I was looking for a complete history of Cripple Creek from it's beginning, and I found it in this easy to read and follow book. Great details encompassing many different pioneers and stories of the area.

I have read a lot of American history with the Old West being my favorite subject. I have always said that Stephen Ambrose's books about the Old West are some of my favorites that I have read over and over. I just finished reading Money Mountain by Marshall Sprague. It is now my favorite history book of the Old West. He writes so well it was hard to put down. Of course, the subject matter is unbelievable mining history. Some prior historical knowledge of the Cripple Creek Mining District in the late 1800s is very helpful to have before you read this book.

Even though the book was older the condition was great. Arrived sooner than thought.Would purchase more books in the future.