About the book
Like the tentacles of an octopus, the tracks of the railroad reached out across California, as if to grasp everything of value in the state Based on an actual, bloody dispute between wheat farmers and the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1880, The Octopus is a stunning novel of the waning days of the frontier West. To the tough-minded and self-reliant farmers, the monopolistic, land-grabbing railroad represented everything they despised: consolidation, organization, conformity. But Norris idealizes no one in this epic depiction of the volatile situation, for the farmers themselves ruthlessly exploited the land, and in their hunger for larger holdings they resorted to the same tactics used by the railroad: subversion, coercion and outright violence. In his introduction, Kevin Starr discusses Norris's debt to Zola for the novel's extraordinary sweep, scale and abundance of characters and details.
Editions of The Octopus
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780140187700
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780140390407
- EBook
- ISBN 9781101127483
Read an Excerpt
Like the tentacles of an octopus, the tracks of the railroad reached out across California, as if to grasp everything of value in the state Based on an actual, bloody dispute between wheat farmers and the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1880, The Octopus is a stunning novel of the waning days of the frontier West. To the tough-minded and self-reliant farmers, the monopolistic, land-grabbing railroad represented everything they despised: consolidation, organization, conformity. But Norris idealizes no one in this epic depiction of the volatile situation, for the farmers themselves ruthlessly exploited the land, and in their hunger for larger holdings they resorted to the same tactics used by the railroad: subversion, coercion and outright violence. In his introduction, Kevin Starr discusses Norris's debt to Zola for the novel's extraordinary sweep, scale and abundance of characters and details.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Octopus about?
Like the tentacles of an octopus, the tracks of the railroad reached out across California, as if to grasp everything of value in the state Based on an actual, bloody dispute between wheat farmers and the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1880, The Octopus is a stunning novel of the waning days of the frontier West. To the tough-minded and self-reliant farmers, the monopolistic, land-grabbing railroad represented everything they despised: consolidation, organization, conformity. But Norris idealizes no one in this epic depiction of the volatile situation, for the farmers themselves ruthlessly exploited the land, and in their hunger for larger holdings they resorted to the same tactics used by the railroad: subversion, coercion and outright violence. In his introduction, Kevin Starr discusses Norris's debt to Zola for the novel's extraordinary sweep, scale and abundance of characters and details.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Octopus?
Fiction > Fiction: literary and general non-genre > Classic fiction: literary and general
Where can I read a sample of The Octopus?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780140187700
Is The Octopus part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series The Epic of the Wheat
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Octopus?
Frank Norris
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Octopus is available as paperback(ISBN 9780140187700) and paperback(ISBN 9780140390407) and ebook(ISBN 9781101127483)
Where can I buy The Octopus online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy The Octopus from below
Where can I buy The Octopus?