Silver Kings: The Lives and Times of MacKay, Fair, Flood, and O'Brien, Lords of the Nevada Comstock Lode

by Oscar Lewis

The story of four spirited Irishmen - two San Francisco bartenders and two Comstock miners - who became owners of the California and Consolidated Virginia mines, amassing a fortune and an empire which endured for 40 years.

Genres: History

295 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1971

About the author

Oscar Lewis was one of the first historians to write seriously about the literary, cultural, and social history of the American West.

From his obituary:
https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/15/ar...

Reviews

[Harry Barnett · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a disappointing book. Written in 1947 by native San Franciscan Oscar Lewis it offers little on the actual business of silver mining and the operation of the silver mines of that era. It is not the type of serious historical research that one would hope to find. A lot of his content seems more suitable for readers from Lewis' era interested in a lighthearted fluff job.

[Thor]

San Francisco in the late 1800's! This place has had an odd history. These are zany and eccentric characters. And what of William Ralston, who seems to be lurking on the edge.