John Putnam tells me
his favourite of his own novels is his first (something I hear repeatedly from
authors.) This is HANGTOWN CREEK, the
first Tom Marsh adventure: a story of adventure, romance, and coming of age in
the early days of the California gold rush. Here ‘the majestic landscapes of
Brett Harte's California unite with Larry McMurtry's epic old west realism.’
14-year old Tom Marsh and his family leave their farm to seek their fortune
in the newly discovered gold fields. Meanwhile two ex-soldiers rescue a woman
from a villainous saloon keeper, who sets off in pursuit. Fate brings these characters together,
where both opportunity and death will clash.
The California Gold Rush began on January 24th 1848 when
James W. Marshall found gold at Sutter’s Mill at Coloma, California. At this
point California was in the process of being taken from Mexico after the
Mexican War, a home for Mexican residents, American settlers and Native
American tribes.
The 1848 gold rush only drew prospectors from California, Oregon, Hawaii
and the nearer parts of Latin America. In 1849 gold-seekers from the eastern
parts of the United States flooded in, the fabled '’49-ers.'
Goldrush prospectors
An estimated 300,000 people came to California during the gold rush, California
became a state without ever being a territory, and many of the Native American
population perished through disease, starvation and violence. Meanwhile lawlessness
flourished, until countered first by vigilantes and then by conventional law
and order bodies.
Originally Dry Diggin’s, Hangtown bore its grim name from 1849-1854, because
of the numerous hangings that took place in the area. Later its name was
changed to the more welcoming Placerville.
Hangtown in 1849
The gold rush has only occasionally featured in TV and movies. The fabled
Mexican bandit Joaquin Murieta, the so-called ‘Robin Hood of El Dorado’ was
played by Ricardo Montalban in the TV movie ‘Desperate Mission’.
‘The
Outcasts of Poker Flat’ is a film based on a Brett Harte gold rush story.
Dale Robertson & Cameron Mitchell in ‘The Outcasts of Poker Flat’
The musical ‘Paint Your Wagon’ where
Lee Marvin follows his wandering star, also has a gold rush setting.
The last time I looked at
Amazon.com 48 of 64 reviews for HANGTOWN
CREEK were 5 star!
REVIEWS:
‘John's
writing is so fresh you are always simply in the now with his characters. …The
pace, rich characters and smooth writing voice and style carried me along and
kept me reading into the wee hours. Wonderful storytelling.’
‘Vividly
written, fast-paced novel.’
‘The
author has created a suspenseful, dramatic, and rough-hewn fictional tale.’
‘Excellent
storytelling, memorable characters… a gripping tale.’
https://www.amazon.com/Hangtown-Creek-California-Marsh-Adventure-ebook/dp/B01H2BUHY8
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