The Epic of the Wheat

2 books in series
4 out of 5 stars 39 ratings

The Octopus: A Story of California Publisher's summary

Like the tentacles of an octopus, the railroad in California reached out across the state, grasping everything of value in the state. Based on the bloody Mussel Slough Tragedy - a conflict between wheat farmers and the Southern Pacific Railroad - The Octopus is a stunning novel chronicling the twilight of the frontier West. A depiction of the tensions between the railroad, the ranchers, and the ranchers’ League. The book emphasizes the control of “forces” - such as the power of railroad monopolies - over individuals. No one was truly innocent, as the farmers employed the same if not similar tactics as the monopolistic railroad companies, such as subversion, coercion, and violence.

©2004 Frank Norris (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing
Show more Show less
Classics Anthologies & Short Stories Railroad
You're getting a free audiobook


You're getting a free audiobook.

$14.95 per month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Product List
  • Book 1

    Regular price: $20.97

  • Book 2

    Regular price: $16.07

Similar series

Cannery Row Twain's Tom and Huck Leatherstocking Tales Sin and Salvation Growth Bruce Mason Rougon-Macquart U.S.A. Little House The Boxcar Children Little Women Tarzan

Book 1 in other series

The Big Rock Candy Mountain Audiobook By Wallace Stegner cover art
The Big Rock Candy Mountain By: Wallace Stegner
The Riders of High Rock Audiobook By Louis L'Amour cover art
The Riders of High Rock By: Louis L'Amour
Invasion Audiobook By M.R. Forbes cover art
Invasion By: M.R. Forbes
Perdido Street Station Audiobook By China Mieville cover art
Perdido Street Station By: China Mieville
Empire: The Empire Duet, Part 1 Audiobook By Orson Scott Card cover art
Empire: The Empire Duet, Part 1 By: Orson Scott Card
Fractured State Audiobook By Steven Konkoly cover art
Fractured State By: Steven Konkoly
American Front Audiobook By Harry Turtledove cover art
American Front By: Harry Turtledove
American Empire Audiobook By Harry Turtledove cover art
American Empire By: Harry Turtledove
Distant Dreams Audiobook By Judith Pella, Tracie Peterson cover art
Distant Dreams By: Judith Pella, and others
Mr. Tucket Audiobook By Gary Paulsen cover art
Mr. Tucket By: Gary Paulsen
Dylan's Journey Audiobook By C.J. Petit cover art
Dylan's Journey By: C.J. Petit
The Wild Shore Audiobook By Kim Stanley Robinson cover art
The Wild Shore By: Kim Stanley Robinson

Listens by similar authors

To Kill a Mockingbird Audiobook By Harper Lee cover art
To Kill a Mockingbird By: Harper Lee
It Can't Happen Here Audiobook By Sinclair Lewis cover art
It Can't Happen Here By: Sinclair Lewis
The Country of the Pointed Firs Audiobook By Sarah Orne Jewett cover art
The Country of the Pointed Firs By: Sarah Orne Jewett
The Lonesome Gods (Louis L'Amour's Lost Treasures) Audiobook By Louis L'Amour cover art
The Lonesome Gods (Louis L'Amour's Lost Treasures) By: Louis L'Amour
In the Distance Audiobook By Hernan Diaz cover art
In the Distance By: Hernan Diaz
LT's Theory of Pets Audiobook By Stephen King cover art
LT's Theory of Pets By: Stephen King
Go Set a Watchman Audiobook By Harper Lee cover art
Go Set a Watchman By: Harper Lee
Arrowsmith Audiobook By Sinclair Lewis cover art
Arrowsmith By: Sinclair Lewis
Sackett's Land: The Sacketts Audiobook By Louis L'Amour cover art
Sackett's Land: The Sacketts By: Louis L'Amour
The Road Virus Heads North Audiobook By Stephen King cover art
The Road Virus Heads North By: Stephen King
Main Street Audiobook By Sinclair Lewis cover art
Main Street By: Sinclair Lewis
Desert Death-Song Audiobook By Louis L'Amour cover art
Desert Death-Song By: Louis L'Amour