Railroaded: The Transcontinentals and the Making of Modern America

This original, deeply researched history shows the transcontinentals to be pivotal actors in the making of modern America. But the triumphal myths of the golden spike, robber barons larger than life, and innovative capitalism all die here. Instead, we have a new vision of the Gilded Age, often darkly funny, that shows history to be rooted in failure as well as success.