Harper Perennial
The Cold Millions
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"One of the most captivating novels of the year." - Washington Post
NATIONAL BESTSELLER - A Library Reads Pick - An Indie Next Pick
A Best Book of the Year: Bloomberg Boston Globe Chicago Public Library Chicago Tribune Esquire Kirkus New York Public Library New York Times Book Review (Historical Fiction) NPR's Fresh Air O Magazine Washington Post Publishers Weekly Seattle Times USA Today
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins comes another "literary miracle" (NPR)--a propulsive, richly entertaining novel about two brothers swept up in the turbulent class warfare of the early twentieth century.
An intimate story of brotherhood, love, sacrifice, and betrayal set against the panoramic backdrop of an early twentieth-century America that eerily echoes our own time, The Cold Millions offers a kaleidoscopic portrait of a nation grappling with the chasm between rich and poor, between harsh realities and simple dreams.
The Dolans live by their wits, jumping freight trains and lining up for day work at crooked job agencies. While sixteen-year-old Rye yearns for a steady job and a home, his older brother, Gig, dreams of a better world, fighting alongside other union men for fair pay and decent treatment. Enter Ursula the Great, a vaudeville singer who performs with a live cougar and introduces the brothers to a far more dangerous creature: a mining magnate determined to keep his wealth and his hold on Ursula.
Dubious of Gig's idealism, Rye finds himself drawn to a fearless nineteen-year-old activist and feminist named Elizabeth Gurley Flynn. But a storm is coming, threatening to overwhelm them all, and Rye will be forced to decide where he stands. Is it enough to win the occasional battle, even if you cannot win the war?
Featuring an unforgettable cast of cops and tramps, suffragists and socialists, madams and murderers, The Cold Millions is a tour de force from a "writer who has planted himself firmly in the first rank of American authors" (Boston Globe).
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Book Details
ISBN:
9780062868091
EAN:
9780062868091
Binding:
Paperback
Pages:
352
Authors:
Jess Walter
Publisher:
Harper Perennial
Published Date: 2021-05-10
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I read this because i respect Jess Walter’s writing, but this book took longer to get going than others did.
Jess Walters achieves so much with this engrossing, intelligent and entertaining historical fiction. "The Cool Millions" is my third Walter novel. I have high regards for "Beautiful Ruins" and "So Far Gone" but I found this more satisfying. The historical aspects found in all his books was more contributory and relevant. The characters were tangible and believable and the story moves with an attention keeping pace.While Walters seems to always bring on a kaleidoscope of characters he does so here while keeping the main action more centered. The two brother Gig (25) and Rye (16 turning 17) lookout for each other as their parents and siblings have passed. They are struggling like many in the early days of 20th century. Walters' depiction of the booming but exploitive mining and timber industries around Spokane, Washington and Idaho feel so real and realistic; the explosive wealth of the barons, new buildings like a Carnegie Library, new train station along whe ith the poverty and struggles of those doing the hard, physical and dangerous labor. The conflicts are there and borne out of that is the IWW; an early union effort fought viciously by the mining owners and their friends in politics and the police.The story behind the brothers is the free speech movement and the rights of the workers to demand that their voice be heard and the equally shocking oppression and violence brought against them.The story is almost a film and that a reader can picture the scenes of conflict or scheming and feel the energy in what was clearly a very vibrant city.I highly recommend the book. A great read with a dish of lessons learned.
It took me much longer than I normally give a book, to get into it. It was okay but those first 75ish pages were disjointed and boring! I’m surprised I kept reading:)
I couldn't give this book more praise. Excellent writing and character development. one of the best books I read in recent years, highly recommended.
It was a little difficult for me, at first - the author's technique of switching to different narrators. Then it all pulled together and - what a story! The cold millions. Very in depth view of real (disgusting, painful) historical events. I plan to read more of this author's work.
