American alchemy : the California Gold Rush and middle-class culture / Brian Roberts.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Roberts, Brian, 1957-

Series:

Cultural studies of the United States.

Cultural studies of the United States

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Frontier and pioneer life--California.

Frontier and pioneer life.

Frontier and pioneer life--West (U.S.).

Pioneers--California--History--19th century.

Pioneers.

Pioneers--Northeastern States--History--19th century.

Middle class--California--History--19th century.

Middle class.

Middle class--Northeastern States--History--19th century.

California--Gold discoveries--Social aspects.

California.

California--Social conditions.

Northeastern States--Social conditions--19th century.

Northeastern States.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (356 p.)

Place of Publication:

Chapel Hill : University of North Carolina Press, c2000.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

California during the gold rush was a place of disputed claims, shoot-outs, gambling halls, and prostitution; a place populated by a rough and rebellious figure; a place that seems utterly unconnected to middle-class culture. This work challenges this stereotypical portrait.

Contents:

Acknowledgments; Introduction; 1. California Gold and Filthy Lucre; 2. Gold Fever as a Cure; 3. Husbands and Wives; 4. Numberless Highways to Fairy Grottos; 5. A Great and Perverse Paradise; Section of Illustrations; 6. California Is a Humbug; 7. Widows and Helpmates; 8. A Wild, Free, Disorderly, Grotesque Society; 9. The Prude Fails; 10. The End of the Flush Times; Conclusion; Notes; Index;

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9798890869982

9780807860939

080786093X

OCLC:

476237377