The Age of Gold: The California Gold Rush and the New American Dream

By H. W. Brands

From the two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist, bestselling historian, and author of Our First Civil War—the epic story of the California Gold Rush, “a fine, robust telling of one of the greatest adventure stories in history" (David McCullough, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of John Adams).

The California Gold Rush inspired a new American dream—the “dream of instant wealth, won by audacity and good luck.” The discovery of gold on the American River in 1848 triggered the most astonishing mass movement of peoples since the Crusades. It drew fortune-seekers from the ends of the earth, accelerated America’s imperial expansion, and exacerbated the tensions that exploded in the Civil War. 

H.W. Brands tells his epic story from multiple perspectives: of adventurers John and Jessie Fremont, entrepreneur Leland Stanford, and the wry observer Samuel Clemens—side by side with prospectors, soldiers, and scoundrels. He imparts a visceral sense of the distances they traveled, the suffering they endured, and the fortunes they made and lost. Impressive in its scholarship and overflowing with life, The Age of Gold is history in the grand traditions of Stephen Ambrose and David McCullough.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
• Release date: Dec 10, 2008
• ISBN: 9780307481221

Reviews for The Age of Gold

[seriousgrace · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Age of Gold takes a thorough look at a slice of American history. Beginning in 1848 Brands introduces the reader to people from all walks of life, uncovering every story from land and sea across several continents. Part One describes in detail the first adventurers to travel from every corner of the earth to seek gold. It is here John Fremont is introduced for the first time. Part Two is an introduction to the frenzied hunt for gold: panning, picking, cradling, digging, mining, sifting, sluicing. Part Three sees the birth of California's borders and governing body. San Francisco becomes the first city in the state.

[broughtonhouse · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a well-written romp through the discovery of gold in California along with some of its consequences. Using the stories of real people - Sutter, Hurst, Stanford, and so on - the story is given relevance to the present day. Concentrating on people's stories also keeps the pace cracking along. A satisfying read all round.

[schmerguls · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I read the author's The Restless Decade on 7 Sept 2003 with real appreciation and so when given this book quickly decided to read it. It was published in 2002 and tells the story of the Gold Rushand how it affected the state, the nation, and the world. It spends a considerable amount of time telling of various arduous efforts to reach California, as well as the effect of the news of gold's discovery on many people. While there are source notes and an extensive bibliography the book can be read as a story rather than as academic history. I particularly enoyed the chapter on the political events surrounding the Compromise of 1850, which includes well-chosen quotes from Clay, Calhourn, and especially Webster. (Reading the Webster excerpt made me feel I was caught up by the oratory!) Some of the technical mining and processing description, while obviously necessary, did not fill me with interest. But the accounts of Fremont and his wife, and of the building of the transcontinental railroad and its promoters are of much interest. And the summing up chapters and the account of what happened to the people involved in the Gold Rush and its history is well-done. One need not be obsessed by history to enjoy the book and it is easy to see why the author is probably a much-appreciated teacher by his students.

[midlevelbureaucrat · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A thrilling and eminently readable history of California...the land of opportunists.

[busterrll · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Well written, well documented story of the California Gold rush. Skillfullly told with many side stories. Perhaps a tad too long.

[gshuk_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Amazing the far reaching effects the gold rush had on America and the world. He covered lots of ground with many of these fascinating repercussions being exposed using the stories of known and unknown individuals. Unfortunately it was a labor to read at times. This was due to the jumping around following individual people’s stories and then going way to deep on some topics. For example when he went into detail on the mining techniques I found my eyes glazing over waiting for the chapter to end.

[debnance_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I like to read books about the places I visit. That’s why I picked The Age of Gold. It came highly recommended and it did not disappoint.Gold is found during the building of Sutter’s Mill in California. People began to flood into California, risking death, willing to sacrifice everything for a chance to get rich.Brands hones in on his characters---Sutter, young men headed to California from all parts, Stanford, Hearst---until the book feels more like a novel than a history book. I’m looking forward to seeing the places mentioned in the book. I feel like I just completed a short course in California history by reading this book.