In 1848, many Americans were seized by the desire to turn their lives around, give up everything and chase luck. This was the time when California mill builder James Marshall first discovered gold nuggets on the banks of the American River. Following him, thousands of people flocked to California with the hope of quick and easy enrichment. They dreamed of gold, they were not afraid of the dangers of many months of wandering and difficult trials. The author of the book, French writer Liliane Crete, paints a striking picture of the mass madness of people eager to get rich quickly. However, the author managed to see the inner strength of human nature behind the external outline of the history of the “gold rush”. It was not gold that raised California, but the people who came for it.