In the four years between 1881 and 1885, Canada was forged into one nation by the building of the Canadian Pacific Railway. The Last Spike reconstructs the incredible story of how some 2,000 miles of steel crossed the continent in just five years -- exactly half the time stipulated in the contract. Pierre Berton recreates the adventures that were part of this vast undertaking: the railway on the brink of bankruptcy, with one hour between it and ruin; the extraordinary land boom of Winnipeg in 1881-1882; and the epic tale of how William Van Horne rushed 3,000 soldiers over a half-finished railway to quell the Riel Rebellion.

Dominating the whole saga are the men who made it all possible -- a host of astonishing characters: Van Horne, the powerhouse behind the vision of a transcontinental railroad; Rogers, the eccentric surveyor; Onderdonk, the cool New Yorker; Stephen, the most emotional of businessmen; Father Lacombe, the black-robed voyageur; Sam Steele, of the North West Mounted Police; Gabriel Dumont, the Prince of the Prairies; more than 7,000 Chinese workers, toiling and dying in the canyons of the Fraser Valley; and many more -- land sharks, construction geniuses, politicians, and entrepreneurs -- all of whom played a role in the founding of the new Canada west of Ontario.

A lively saga (New York Times) of the great Alaska gold rush--a story of cold skies and avalanches, con men and gamblers and dance hall girls, grizzly old miners and millionaires

In 1897 a grimy steamer bearing two tons of pure Klondike gold docked in Seattle, immediately triggering a stampede north to Alaska. In his exhilarating The Klondike Fever, Pierre Berton chronicles the incredible succession of events that followed in all their splendid and astonishing folly.

As many as 100,000 adventurers, dreamers, and would-be miners from all over the world struck out for the remote, isolated gold fields of the Klondike Valley, most of them in total ignorance of the long, harsh Alaskan winters and the territory's indomitable terrain. Less than a third of that number would complete the enormously arduous mountain journey to their destination, and fewer still would strike gold.

Berton's story belongs less to those who would make their fortunes than to the many swept up in the gold mania who met misfortune and tragic ends. The Klondike Fever is a stirring testament to the human capacity to dream, and to endure.

The story of the Dionne identical quints, born in Ontario Canada in May 1934.

This thrilling story of the Klondike Gold Rush is at once first-rate history and first-rate entertainment. Some of the anecdotes of the last great gold rush have been told by others, but Pierre Berton is the first to distill the Klondike experience into a single, complete, coherent and immensely dramatic narrative. He spent 12 years in Dawson City researching the work. The entire tale has an epic ring, as much because of its splendid folly as because of its color and motion. The full story has never been told before, nor has it been told in this dramatic way.

It is interesting to watch how the expressions change as you progress through the book, from optimistic in the beginning, to almost hopeless by the end... The pictures alone will offer hours of viewing. -- CM Magazine

The story of the stampede is told well but shown even better. -- HistoryNet.com

This classic book is a truly great photographic essay of an historic event that made millionaires of an anonymous few but crushed thousands more in a hostile climate and unforgiving terrain anticipated by none.

We are nearing the 125th anniversary of the Klondike Gold Rush and no one has told the story as vividly as Yukon-born Pierre Berton. Canada's leading popular historian compiled over 200 rare period images from the more than 10,000 images in public archives and private collections. Depicting every aspect of what Berton called one of the strangest mass movements in history, many of the compelling images were first published in this book.

The Klondike Quest brings to life the panoramic drama of the great stampede for gold as seen by the ordinary gold-seeker. The photographs are beautifully reproduced and informatively and colorfully captioned. One million people, it is said, laid plans to go to the Klondike. One hundred thousand actually set off. And so the Klondike saga is a chronicle of humanity in the mass... For the next eighteen months, the Yukon interior plateau became a human anthill.

As a true story of real men looking for a golden phantom, it's a tale that can't be beat.

2010 Reprint of 1958 edition. This thrilling story of the Klondike Gold Rush is at once first-rate history and first-rate entertainment. Some of the anecdotes of the last great gold rush have been told by others, but Pierre Berton is the first to distill the Klondike experience into a single, complete, coherent and immensely dramatic narrative. He spent 12 years in Dawson City researching the work. The entire tale has an epic ring, as much because of its splendid folly as because of its color and motion. The full story has never been told before, nor has it been told in this dramatic way.

A sweeping history of this natural wonder, from its geological beginnings to the present.

The noble cataract reflects the concerns, failings, and fancies of the times. If we gaze deeply into its shimmering image we can perhaps discern our own. - page 22

[Pierre Berton] makes a serious and convincing case for Niagara's pivotal role in North American history.... His Niagara is a lodestar for North American culture and invention: site of the first railway suspension bridge, inspiration for Nikola Tesla's discovery of the principle of alternating current, and the subject of Frederic Church's most celebrated landscape; a natural wonder that has bewitched generations of scientists, authors, and utopians, and stimulated innovations and social movements still casting long shadows.... surprising, rich and engrossing. -- Thurston Clarke, New York Times Book Review

Canadian historian Berton tells dozens of absorbing tales about the region and those who passed through it... He tells them all superbly, aided by essential maps and a few reproductions of posters advertising some of the more bizarre stunts. -- Publishers Weekly

Entertaining.... Berton brings to life the adventurers and dreamers, visionaries and industrialists, who over centuries have been drawn to the Falls. -- Maclean's

Berton at his storytelling best; there is something here for everyone.... a vintage, full-bodied read. -- The London Free Press

A book worth diving into. -- Calgary Herald

By turns ironic, amused, shocked, horrified and awestruck, Berton traces Niagara's history through the deeds of those who came in contact with it... all the while walking the fine line between detachment and emotion with agility and grace. -- The Whig-Standard (Kingston)

Pierre Berton was one of Canada's most popular and prolific authors, and is widely credited with popularizing Canadian history. His previous books include The Wild Frontier, Prisoners of the North, Klondike, The Invasion of Canada, and The Great Depression.

In 1871, a tiny nation, just four years old--it's population well below the 4 million mark--determined that it would build the world's longest railroad across empty country, much of it unexplored. This decision--bold to the point of recklessness--was to change the lives of every man, woman and child in Canada and alter the shape of the nation.

Using primary sources--diaries, letters, unpublished manuscripts, public documents and newspapers--Pierre Berton has reconstructed the incredible decade of the 1870s, when Canadians of every stripe--contractors, politicians, financiers, surveyors, workingmen, journalists and entrepreneurs--fought for the railway, or against it.

The National Dream is above all else the story of people. It is the story of George McMullen, the brash young promoter who tried to blackmail the Prime Minister; of Marcus Smith, the crusty surveyor, so suspicious of authority he thought the Governor General was speculating in railway lands; of Sanford Fleming, the great engineer who invented Standard Time but who couldn't make up his mind about the best route for the railway. All these figures, and dozens more, including the political leaders of the era, come to life with all their human ambitions and failings.

Zaza: A Lyric Comedy, In Four Acts (1919) is a play written by Pierre Berton. The story centers around Zaza, a popular singer and dancer in Paris. Despite her success, Zaza struggles with love and relationships, particularly with a wealthy businessman named Dufresne. As the play progresses, Zaza's relationships become increasingly complicated, leading to a dramatic conclusion. The play explores themes of love, jealousy, and the challenges of pursuing one's dreams. With its lively characters and engaging plot, Zaza: A Lyric Comedy, In Four Acts is a timeless classic that continues to captivate audiences over a century after its initial publication.English Version By Alice Mattullath.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

The Klondike Fever: The Life and Death of the Last Great Gold Rush is a non-fiction book written by Pierre Berton. The book tells the story of the Klondike Gold Rush, which occurred in the late 19th century in the Yukon Territory of Canada. The book covers the history of the gold rush, the people involved in it, and the impact it had on the region and the world.The book begins by providing a historical context for the gold rush, discussing the discovery of gold in the Yukon and the events that led up to the rush. Berton then goes on to describe the journey to the Klondike, including the treacherous Chilkoot Pass and the dangerous conditions of the journey.The book also covers the people involved in the gold rush, including the prospectors, the entrepreneurs, and the indigenous people of the region. Berton provides detailed accounts of the successes and failures of the prospectors, as well as the challenges they faced in the harsh environment of the Yukon.The Klondike Fever also explores the impact of the gold rush on the region and the world. Berton discusses the economic and social changes that occurred in the Yukon as a result of the rush, as well as the impact it had on the global economy.Overall, The Klondike Fever is a comprehensive and engaging account of one of the most significant events in Canadian history. It provides a detailed look at the people, places, and events that shaped the Klondike Gold Rush and its lasting legacy.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Over 1.5 million Canadians were on relief, one in five was a public dependant, and 70,000 young men travelled like hoboes. Ordinary citizens were rioting in the streets, but their demonstrations met with indifference, and dissidents were jailed. Canada emerged from the Great Depression a different nation.

The most searing decade in Canada's history began with the stock market crash of 1929 and ended with the Second World War. With formidable story-telling powers, Berton reconstructs its engrossing events vividly: the Regina Riot, the Great Birth Control Trial, the black blizzards of the dust bowl and the rise of Social Credit. The extraordinary cast of characters includes Prime Minister Mackenzie King, who praised Hitler and Mussolini but thought Winston Churchill one of the most dangerous men I have ever known; Maurice Duplessis, who padlocked the homes of private citizens for their political opinions; and Tim Buck, the Communist leader who narrowly escaped murder in Kingston Penitentiary.

In this #1 best-selling book, Berton proves that Canada's political leaders failed to take the bold steps necessary to deal with the mass unemployment, drought and despair. A child of the era, he writes passionately of people starving in the midst of plenty.

This Canadian classic, by one of the country's beloved authors, is a personal journey through time and space to the heart of family and the soul of the Canadian experience.
Drifting Home is an account of a journey by Pierre Berton and his family as they raft down the Yukon River from Lake Bennett, British Columbia, to Dawson in the Yukon Territory. It is a meditation on family and childhood and the small moments from which memories are drawn. It is also a tribute by a son to his father.
During the Klondike summer of 1898, Francis George Berton paddled the waters of this historic river. Berton was one of the pioneering adventurers who sought his fortune in the goldfields of the north. When the gold rush ended and the crowds left, he stayed on in Dawson City, Yukon, as government mining recorder, married and started a family. It was there, in Canada's most famous ghost town, that Pierre Berton spent his vividly remembered childhood.
Through a unique blending of nostalgia, his deep love of the land and his unrivalled knowledge of the history and the area, Pierre Berton has created this magical tale.

The Klondike Fever: The Life And Death Of The Last Great Gold Rush is a book written by Pierre Berton. The book is a comprehensive account of the Klondike Gold Rush, which occurred in the late 19th century in the Yukon region of Canada. Berton provides a vivid description of the harsh conditions and the struggles that the gold seekers faced during their journey to the Klondike, as well as the social and economic impact of the gold rush on the region and its people. The book also covers the rise and fall of the gold rush, including the decline of the gold industry and the impact it had on the region's economy. The author uses a range of primary sources, including diaries and letters from those who lived through the gold rush. The Klondike Fever is a fascinating and informative read for anyone interested in the history of the Canadian North and the gold rush era.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.

Dans ce livre, Berton raconte son expérience de la vie théâtrale française. Il examine les coulisses de la production de pièces à succès, les personnalités les plus marquantes de la scène française, et les anecdotes les plus intéressantes de sa carrière. C'est un livre divertissant pour ceux qui s'intéressent aux arts de la scène.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

After the pioneers described in The National Dream, The Last Spike and Klondike came the settlers -- a million people who filled a thousand miles of prairie in a single generation.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.

This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.

Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.