
The Golden Dream
'The Golden Dream' Summary
A young Englishman struck by Gold Fever! He is desperate to travel to California and become part of the great gold rush. He journeys to this remote and unfamiliar place and there he discovers the true value of gold, humanity and God.
Robert Michael Ballantyne was also a gifted painter whose works were exhibited in some of the most important galleries in Europe and Scotland. He came from an eminent family of journalists and publishers and his uncle James Ballantyne was Sir Walter Scott's publisher. The family's wealth disappeared with the financial crisis that struck England in the late 19th century. Young Robert was compelled to abandon his studies and travel to Canada in search of employment. He wrote long and detailed letters home to his mother to ward off homesickness and this was what probably sparked the writing talent in him.
Many of his Canadian and American experiences formed the basis for his writing. He returned to Scotland aged 22 and in the next year itself, his first book, titled Hudson's Bay or Life in the Wilderness of North America was published. It achieved instant success and there was no looking back after that. He published a series of adventure stories which appealed to both young and old. His most famous work, The Coral Island, is still read with great pleasure even today.
Ballantyne was a meticulous and painstaking writer, who was extremely particular about getting the details right in his books. In fact, though The Coral Island was such a grand success, he'd made a minor mistake in it while referring to the thickness of coconut shells and this haunted him for years! In future works, he ensured that he researched every single fact thoroughly before putting it down.
One writer who owed a deep literary debt to Ballantyne was another famous Victorian adventure story-teller, Robert Louis Stevenson. In fact, he never lost an opportunity to confess how much The Coral Island had inspired his own book, Treasure Island. In his preface, Stevenson writes a laudatory poem praising writers like Ballantyne who provided the vision for such novels.
The Golden Dream is packed with authentic details about gold mining and the social milieu of the era. Ned Sinton is a memorable young hero, filled with curiosity and pluck, who follows his dream into an unknown and faraway land.
An exciting read!
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1861Genre/Category
Tags/Keywords
Authors

Robert Michael Ballantyne
Scotland
Robert Michael Ballantyne was a Scottish author of juvenile fiction who wrote more than 100 books. He was also an accomplished artist, and exhibited some of his water-colours at the Royal Scottish Aca...
Books by Robert Michael BallantyneDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books

Viajes de Gulliver a diversos países remotos by Jonathan Swift
Los Viajes de Gulliver, una obra satírica de Jonathan Swift, cuenta la historia de Lemuel Gulliver, un médico de abordo, que viaja a cuatro países ext...

Pony Rider Boys in Texas by Frank Gee Patchin
The Pony Rider Boys are a group of young men who embark on exciting adventures throughout the American West. In this installment, they journey to Texa...

The Thing in the Woods by Margery Williams
Dr. Haverill is asked to fill in as local physician for the skittish Dr. Lennox in a small Pennsylvania town. The locals seem to be a superstitious bu...

Pomona's Travels by Frank R. Stockton
Pomona and Jone of Rudder Grange fame travel to England and Scotland. Along the way, Pomona tangles with wild pigs, haymaking, hotels great and small,...

The Quest of the Golden Girl by Richard le Gallienne
The main character fears that he will never get married and performs a long pilgrimage whose goal is the perfect companion, the girl God meant for him...

Emma McChesney and Company by Edna Ferber
Emma McChesney and Company is the final installment in the Emma McChesney trilogy, following the spirited and successful businesswoman as she navigate...

Hunting In Many Lands by Various
This book chronicles the hunting experiences of prominent members of the Boone and Crockett Club, recounting their expeditions in diverse global locat...

Across the Andes by Charles Johnson Post
Across the Andes is a non-fiction travelogue by Charles Johnson Post that chronicles his journey across the Andes Mountains in South America. Post pro...

Boy Travellers on the Congo by Thomas Wallace Knox
In "Boy Travellers on the Congo", Thomas Wallace Knox takes young readers on a fictionalized journey through the heart of Africa. The story follows tw...

Grace Harlowe's Second Year at Overton College by Jessie Graham Flower
Grace Harlowe's Second Year at Overton College is a charming and nostalgic novel that tells the story of a group of young women as they navigate the c...
Reviews for The Golden Dream
No reviews posted or approved, yet...