Gold: a tale of the California Gold Rush

by Steve Bartholomew

Sometimes you bring your own gold when you travel to the gold rush. Marcus Gale wanted only to get out of New York. Now he's bound to California and the Land of Gold. He means to get there even if it means shoveling coal all the way. He's taken a job as stoker on a steamship, without knowing what a stoker does. He finds himself caught up in a conspiracy to take over the ship, robbery, mayhem, and a pirate attack. Marcus decides his main goal is to get to California alive. He doesn't know he's destined to carry gold. Alouette Thorndyke is also aboard the ship. She's beautiful and rich, or claims she is. Marcus doesn't realize she's about to get him involved with swindling, chaos and mutiny. Nor that she is about to save his life. Marcus dreams of getting rich in California, but the journey is long from Inferno to Paradise. Now read the book and travel to a time past, which haunts us yet today.

186 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

The author was born a long time ago. He spent three years in the US Army where he learned a lot of vital skills, such as how to use a soldering iron and screwdriver, as well as how to make the bed, mop the floor, and wash dishes. He grew up and spent most of his life in San Francisco. After obtaining a useless liberal arts degree, he became a social worker and did more than 20 years in the mean streets of New York City, San Francisco, and rural California.

He is now devoted to writing books, which he should have been doing in the first place. He has written some science fiction and fantasy, but is now mainly interested in tales of the Old West. Previous publications include The Terrorist Plot at Gopherville, Gold, A Tale of the California Gold Rush, Journey to Rhyolite and Chapel Perilous.

Reviews

[Cyndy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm not sure why someone chose this for my book club, but it made the list of 11 books for this year. When I saw that it had a 4.46 average review, I figured it must be a little known gem.

This is a fine little book. I can tell that love of history and a passion for writing went into this delightful project. It's an easy read, and you'll get quite the cast of characters.

My impression was that it was self-published, and I note that at this time, the 5 star reviews seem to be coming from a few California people and some self-publishing people.

[Terri Wobken · Rating 5 out of 5]

thumbs up

great read....kept you wanting to turn the next page...fullof major facts of how things really happened during that time period

[Richard Sutton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perfect, Salty Read!
As a sailor and also a son of the Golden State I've always been entertained by the stories that rose from the mad dash to the West after the 1848 discovery of gold in the Sierra foothills. Author Bartholomew has crafted a superbly told, well paced story capturing the desperation of those who risked everything they had and took to the sea. The long voyage around South America and up the Pacific coast to the Golden Gateway is evoked through a range of characters who find out what they are made of along the way. From a one-time bookkeeper devastated by a gambling habit to a wealthy widow risking everything she has, the lure of potential riches fed by carefully spun newspaper stories of streets of blowing gold dust drives these unlikely shipmates towards a future that may not be as bright as their dreams. Surviving several mishaps and thriving under the tutelage of the First Mate, the ship's engineer and the ship's slightly odd captain, Markus the primary character becomes a formidable fellow indeed through chance, steady thinking and friendship. By the time the passengers actually see San Francisco, many are changed forever, as is their destination. A rousing, satisfying read for all those who love tales of the sea and tales of redemption.