Dreams of Gold

By Lewis Orde

The spellbinding saga of a Jewish family, fighting for the dream that was America.

Orphaned early by a train wreck, the young and idealistic Jews Nathan Solomon and his cousin Leonora have been left to the care of their merchant uncle Samuel, who keeps them in his Bloomsbury home but works them to exhaustion in his store.

Outraged by Uncle Sam’s treatment of his starving subcontractor seamstress, and tipped by their kindly aunt to uncle’s secret hoard of gold pieces, Nathan and Leonora flee to New Orleans, where they are taken under the wing of a kindly Jewish cotton trader.

In the heading heights of America, Nathan doesn’t just learn about cotton, but about gambling, dueling, and love as well. He swings down a path of romances with glamorous Creoles, swordfights, facing the bitter loss of plagues and the loathing cruelty of slavery. And though Leonora loves Nathan, she finds his wild path too much, and betrays her heart to get engaged to somebody else.

But when the Civil War brings the end of the good life in the Big Easy, and old feelings resurface, the cousins lives will be changed forever once again…

Spanning 50 years and multiple generations, from the squalor of London to the glittering streets of New Orleans, Dreams of Gold is a glorious saga about one family’s struggle and triumph. Perfect for fans of Fiona McIntosh, Emily March and Robyn Carr, this heart-warming story will move and delight.

Lewis Orde was born in Reading, England, in 1943, grew up in London and came to the United States in 1964. After serving three years in the U. S. Army, he returned to England to work on newspapers and magazines before settling permanently in the United States in 1977. He is the author of twelve novels including The Lion’s Way, Eagles, By Blood Divided, and Dreams of Gold. After moving up and down the East Coast in search of the perfect place to call home, he now lives with his wife, Kay, in St. Augustine Beach, Florida.