H. W. Brands is the author of The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin, a New York Times bestseller shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Award. He is Distinguished Professor and holder of the Melburn G. Glasscock Chair in American History at Texas A &M University.

"'The extraordinary story of the California Gold Rush... In John and Jesse Fremont, a glamorous couple, HW Brands has found the heroes of his tale' Rose Tremain in the Daily Mail" "'A great adventure story, more action-packed than any Western movie... a gripping picture of an extraordinary moment in history. Brands' fascinating account of the California Gold Rush is as epic as his subject'" -- Philip Hoare The Sunday Telegraph "'At once scholarly, witty and accessible ... it is hard to imagine a rangier or more entertaining guide to this period of American history'" Daily Telegraph "'A riveting story told by a born writer.' John Julius Norwich" "'Fascinating.' Paul Johnson, Literary Review "

H. W. Brands is the author of The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin, a New York Times bestseller shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Award. He is Distinguished Professor and holder of the Melburn G. Glasscock Chair in American History at Texas A &M University.

"'The extraordinary story of the California Gold Rush... In John and Jesse Fremont, a glamorous couple, HW Brands has found the heroes of his tale' Rose Tremain in the Daily Mail" "'A great adventure story, more action-packed than any Western movie... a gripping picture of an extraordinary moment in history. Brands' fascinating account of the California Gold Rush is as epic as his subject'" -- Philip Hoare The Sunday Telegraph "'At once scholarly, witty and accessible ... it is hard to imagine a rangier or more entertaining guide to this period of American history'" Daily Telegraph "'A riveting story told by a born writer.' John Julius Norwich" "'Fascinating.' Paul Johnson, Literary Review "

H. W. Brands is the author of The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin, a New York Times bestseller shortlisted for the Pulitzer Prize and the Los Angeles Times Book Award. He is Distinguished Professor and holder of the Melburn G. Glasscock Chair in American History at Texas A &M University.

"'The extraordinary story of the California Gold Rush... In John and Jesse Fremont, a glamorous couple, HW Brands has found the heroes of his tale' Rose Tremain in the Daily Mail" "'A great adventure story, more action-packed than any Western movie... a gripping picture of an extraordinary moment in history. Brands' fascinating account of the California Gold Rush is as epic as his subject'" -- Philip Hoare The Sunday Telegraph "'At once scholarly, witty and accessible ... it is hard to imagine a rangier or more entertaining guide to this period of American history'" Daily Telegraph "'A riveting story told by a born writer.' John Julius Norwich" "'Fascinating.' Paul Johnson, Literary Review "