"In 1898, Alaska is an untamed wilderness with an unforgiving climate. At the tail end of a worldwide depression, thousands of destitute people are drawn north by rumors of easy wealth coming out of the remote claims of the Gold Rush. Many of the pilgrims are unprepared for the hardships that await them and find nothing but a desolate landscape already pillaged if its riches by those who came before them.
Hannah Nelson, a beautiful young Victorian Englishwoman, is one of the late arrivals. After following her husband to a desolate, glacier-wracked fjord in the company of three equally desperate men, she discovers that gold is only one of the desires that can consume a person's soul..."
___________________________________________________
The story of Hannah, her husband, and 3 of their "friends" is a sad story of the life of those looking for gold. Strangers become friends, friends become enemies, and the desire of love consumes all. This is not a true story, but is based upon the true story of the individual characters in this book. The way of life in 1898 has changed drastically from what it is today, but the desires of these individuals can be seen in each one of us. Everyone has had the desire to become rich quick, but these individuals took it upon themselves to travel to a desolate community in search gold, and experience hardships that no individual should have to endure.
If you are interested in learning more about the Gold Rush and the hardships endured by many, I recommend picking up this book. It was slow-moving at first, but became more engaging towards the end. I have been reading more books set in the late 1800's and early 1900's and I find myself drawn to those that offer a bit of history within the story. The characters were well developed and left you hoping for the best, but fearing for the worst. Overall, a quick read that devles further into the times of the Gold Rush.
No comments:
Post a Comment