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The Floor of Heaven

A True Tale of the American West and the Yukon Gold Rush
by Howard Blum
The Floor of Heaven: A True Tale of the American West and the Yukon Gold Rush. Crown Pub. Group. Apr. 2011. 352p. ISBN 9780307461728. $26; eISBN 9780307461742.
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OrangeReviewStarAs a history instructor, Blum does a good job—his American Lightning, about the 1910 bombing of the Los Angeles Times offices, was a best seller and an Edgar Award winner. This work focuses on George Carmack, who set off the 1898 Alaska gold rush after discovering a promising lode; Soapy Smith, who aimed to con Carmack out of his riches; and Charlie Siringo, the Pinkerton detective Carmack hired for protection. One of those historical narratives that reads like fiction; a likely choice for discussion groups looking for nonfiction.
Reviewed by Barbara Hoffert , Nov 01, 2010
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