Railroad

From “one of the few true masters” an epic novel of ambition and corruption inspired by the nineteenth century railroad tycoon Collis P. Huntington (James Herbert).
 
Originally published under the title A Man of Destiny, Graham Masterton’s saga “runs spike-by-tie with historical fact” as it follows the eventful life of Collis Edmonds, a man determined to become rich and powerful by any means necessary (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).
 
In 1857, Collis arrives in San Francisco without a friend or a penny to his name. But he will win and lose plenty of both as he works relentlessly toward his vision of an iron-horse empire. An arrogant, hard-drinking cad prone to gambling and womanizing, Collis is also charismatic, cunning, and ingenious in his pursuit of wealth. But what happened to make Collis Edmonds the man he is today? And what has he lost that has made him so corrupt?
 
Based on the true story of Collis P. Huntington, acclaimed author Graham Masterton takes his readers on a scenic adventure through the mid-nineteenth century. From San Francisco to Panama and across the United States; from brothels to boardrooms and back alleys, this sweeping tale explores the triumph and tragedy of one man’s American dream.