From the Publisher
As America hurtles through the final explosive events of the nineteenth century, a young German immigrant named Pauli Kroner is about to realize his dream: He will taste a life of privilege in the Chicago mansion of his uncle, Joe Crown, head of a brewery dynasty. But Pauli's ultimate clash with that stern, proud, patriarch will force him to a risky existence on the city's dark side.
John Jakes brings the unforgettable Crown family (beer barons of Chicago) alive through their strong personal bonds, their business successes, the rise of labor, the development of photography and the U.S. involvement in Cuba. The overpowering forces of history draw hard lines in Paul Crown's life. Herrmann's reading is superb, with distinctive character vocalizations and the powerful emotions of family tragedy and triumph. Musical interludes ease the transition between years and locales in this abridged version. J.E.G. (c)AudioFile, Portland, Maine