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The Valley of the Giants
The Valley of the Giants is a classic novel written by Peter B. Kyne. The story is set in the early 20th century and revolves around the timber industry in California. It follows the lives of two men, Bryce Cardigan and Jules Rondeau, who are both involved in the logging business. Bryce is a wealthy young man who inherits a logging company from his father, while Jules is a French-Canadian who works as a lumberjack.The novel explores the challenges and conflicts that arise in the timber industry, including the struggle between conservation and commercial interests. Bryce and Jules find themselves at odds with each other as they compete for control of the valley where the giant redwood trees grow. Along the way, they encounter a cast of colorful characters, including corrupt politicians, ruthless business rivals, and a love interest for Bryce.The Valley of the Giants is a thrilling adventure story that captures the spirit of the American West. It is a tale of greed, ambition, and betrayal, but also of courage, loyalty, and redemption. With its vivid descriptions of the natural beauty of the California landscape and its larger-than-life characters, this book is sure to captivate readers of all ages.1918. In the summer of 1850 a topsail schooner slipped into the cove under Trinidad Head and dropped anchor at the edge of the kelp-fields. Fifteen minutes later her small-boat deposited on the beach a man armed with long squirrel-rifle and an axe, and carrying food and clothing in a brown canvas pack. From the beach he watched the boat return and saw the schooner weigh anchor and stand out to sea before the northwest trades. When she had disappeared from his ken, he swung his pack to his broad and powerful back and strode resolutely into the timber at the mouth of a little river. The man was John Cardigan; in that lonely, hostile land he was the first pioneer. This is the tale of Cardigan and Cardigan's son, for in his chosen land the pioneer leader in the gigantic task of hewing a path for civilization was to know the bliss of woman's love and of parenthood, and the sorrow that comes of the loss of a perfect mate; he was to know the tremendous joy of accomplishment and worldly success after infinite labor; and in the sunset of life he was to know the dull despair of failure and ruin. See other titles by this author available from Kessinger Publishing.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1918
About the author
Peter B. Kyne
150 books29 followersPeter Bernard Kyne was an American novelist who wrote between 1904 and 1940. Many of his works were adapted into screenplays starting in the silent era, particularly his first novel, The Three Godfathers, which was published in 1913 and proved to be a huge success. He is credited in 110 films between 1914 and 1952.
When still under 18, he lied about his age and enlisted in Company L, 14th U.S. Infantry, which served in the Philippines from 1898-1899. The Spanish-American War and the following insurrection of General Emilio Aguinaldo provided background for many of Kyne's later stories.[1] During World War I, he served as a captain in Battery A of the 144th field Artillery, known as the California Grizzlies.
When still under 18, he lied about his age and enlisted in Company L, 14th U.S. Infantry, which served in the Philippines from 1898-1899. The Spanish-American War and the following insurrection of General Emilio Aguinaldo provided background for many of Kyne's later stories.[1] During World War I, he served as a captain in Battery A of the 144th field Artillery, known as the California Grizzlies.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 16, 2018
The Valley of the Giants by San Francisco author Peter B. Kyne is set on the edge of Humboldt Bay in the fictional town of Sequoia. It's located roughly where the "day time headlights" section of the 101 stretches between Eureka and Arcata California.
The novel follows the ups and downs of the Cardigan family from the founding of the logging town through the on-going rivalry with Col. Pennington over logging rights and other business matters. While the book starts in 1850, most of the plot is "present day" (roughly 1917-8) and focuses on the romance and rivalry of the second generation: Bryce Cardigan and Shirley Sumner (niece of Col. Pennington).
With a book written by a local author (whose influence is still felt in the Bay Area, all the way out to Tracy) and a setting in an area I know and love, it was hard to just take the fiction as fiction. Like Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series set in a town based on Santa Barbara, Kyne's Sequoia picks and chooses its landmarks on recognizable places. To confuse things though Kyne places his town in proximity to real locations (Arcata being mentioned). He even includes a map page 37 which lost me an hour or so playing with Google maps even though I know the town is made up!
The Valley of the Giants is not exactly a romance. It mostly focuses on the business aspects of running the mill in a time of financial crisis while trying to preserving some of the old growth forest for future generations. The old growth forest is the "Valley of the Giants" that the book takes its name from. It is reminiscent of course of the Avenue of the Giants which runs parallel with 101 in a stretch south of Eureka.
Kyne's novel has been adapted for film four times: in 1919, in 1927, in 1938 and finally very loosely in 1952 as The Big Trees. If you've seen the The Big Trees, Shirley Sumner is first and foremost a business woman. She is not a Quaker there to save the trees. Although she does ultimately help in saving them her reasons are in no way religiously motivated. Of these adaptations, only the 1938 and 1952 versions are readily available. I would personally prefer to see either the 1919 or 1927 versions as they sound like the closest adaptations to the book. The book though is still available in reprint and through Project Gutenberg.
The novel follows the ups and downs of the Cardigan family from the founding of the logging town through the on-going rivalry with Col. Pennington over logging rights and other business matters. While the book starts in 1850, most of the plot is "present day" (roughly 1917-8) and focuses on the romance and rivalry of the second generation: Bryce Cardigan and Shirley Sumner (niece of Col. Pennington).
With a book written by a local author (whose influence is still felt in the Bay Area, all the way out to Tracy) and a setting in an area I know and love, it was hard to just take the fiction as fiction. Like Sue Grafton's Kinsey Millhone series set in a town based on Santa Barbara, Kyne's Sequoia picks and chooses its landmarks on recognizable places. To confuse things though Kyne places his town in proximity to real locations (Arcata being mentioned). He even includes a map page 37 which lost me an hour or so playing with Google maps even though I know the town is made up!
The Valley of the Giants is not exactly a romance. It mostly focuses on the business aspects of running the mill in a time of financial crisis while trying to preserving some of the old growth forest for future generations. The old growth forest is the "Valley of the Giants" that the book takes its name from. It is reminiscent of course of the Avenue of the Giants which runs parallel with 101 in a stretch south of Eureka.
Kyne's novel has been adapted for film four times: in 1919, in 1927, in 1938 and finally very loosely in 1952 as The Big Trees. If you've seen the The Big Trees, Shirley Sumner is first and foremost a business woman. She is not a Quaker there to save the trees. Although she does ultimately help in saving them her reasons are in no way religiously motivated. Of these adaptations, only the 1938 and 1952 versions are readily available. I would personally prefer to see either the 1919 or 1927 versions as they sound like the closest adaptations to the book. The book though is still available in reprint and through Project Gutenberg.
January 11, 2011
This is one of my favorite works of fiction. I like it because of the vivid descriptions of the American spirit, the beauty of the Pacific Northwest, the building of a business and life in the outdoors. There is something about Kyne's word choice and phrasing that I also like--there is a certain formality to his writing like others of this time period. It's a shame that Kyne employs certain stereotypes and other insensitive descriptions in his writing, which has probably hurt his popularity. But, if you can overlook the political incorrectness, it is a very enjoyable read.
April 9, 2020
I bought this book 7 years ago originally under the mistaken idea that it was about literal giants, of the mythical kind, as it was in the science fiction section of the secondhand bookstore. So you can imagine my surprise when it turns out to be a novel set in the early 1900s about the rough and tumble world of running a logging business in the fictional town of Sequoia
Pleasingly, as a fan of Arthur Hailey's books that delve into business, this was a pleasant and much welcome surprise. Not only does this novel paint a realistic and vivid picture of the time, it is immersive and dare I go as far as to say exciting. You can't help but root for the Cardigan's as they attempt to operate their business in an ethical manner whilst Colonel Pettington does so underhandedly and unethically attempting to gain any advantage he can.
At the very core it is a novel of succession and overcoming adversity, with the adversity being an unethical competitor who has seemingly taken advantage of the aging owner of a timber enterprise. The aging owner's son returns home from his education to taken the reigns of the family business and take the fight to the competitor.
I really enjoyed this and would recommend it.
Pleasingly, as a fan of Arthur Hailey's books that delve into business, this was a pleasant and much welcome surprise. Not only does this novel paint a realistic and vivid picture of the time, it is immersive and dare I go as far as to say exciting. You can't help but root for the Cardigan's as they attempt to operate their business in an ethical manner whilst Colonel Pettington does so underhandedly and unethically attempting to gain any advantage he can.
At the very core it is a novel of succession and overcoming adversity, with the adversity being an unethical competitor who has seemingly taken advantage of the aging owner of a timber enterprise. The aging owner's son returns home from his education to taken the reigns of the family business and take the fight to the competitor.
I really enjoyed this and would recommend it.
March 15, 2016
This is one of those rugged old manly man kinds of books, pitting a good, fair-playing capitalist against an underhanded one. The story revolves around red-wood timber magnates in Northern California. It's a pretty good yarn, albeit melodramatic, at times. The characterization of women is predictably paternalistic (hey, its from a century ago, before suffrage). Interestingly, however, the primary female character is unusually shrewd in a business sense in between her fits of swooning and peevishness over the manly man of her dreams. This is escapist literature from a century ago, the kind of stuff my grandfather-in-law liked (although he turned me on to James Oliver Curwood, but this stuff is somewhat similar). It does it's job well enough.
September 26, 2017
The Valley of the Giants By Peter B. Kyne
“Strong in their faith to live their lives and love their loves, to dream their dreams and perchance when life should be done with and the hour of rest at hand, to surrender, sustained and comforted by the knowledge that those dreams had come true.” This quote sums up the mindsets of Bryce Cardigan and Shirley Sumner. Throughout The Valley of the Giants by Peter B. Kyne, Bryce and Shirley show how they are each determined to do business their way, willing to take risks and dream big, but also that they will accept defeat when fairly beaten. The interactions between these two lively characters and their attached businesses along with the realistic setting make for a wonderfully exciting adventure of a book.
The Valley of the Giants is set in Sequoia California, a fictional logging town in the middle of the California redwoods off of humboldt bay in the early 1900s. The first few chapters go over John Cardigan, his construction of the mill and the Cardigan Redwood Co., the expansion of the town, and the life he builds for himself and his son, Bryce Cardigan. During these chapters the reader is filled in on how John Cardigan strategically purchases timber that will provide business and profit for his son when he takes over the company. The years pass, Bryce goes off to college and when he returns finds that the company has fallen into trouble. Their biggest rival, the Laguna Grande Lumber Co., has finally beaten them down and, in just a year, will be able to deal the final blow. Bryce jumps in with a new daring, yet risky plan that just might, by some chance, be able to save the company. However, his plan will only work if Colonel Pennington, the president of the Laguna Grande Lumber co., doesn’t develop any suspicions and block the whole operation. And all this is complicated even more by the romance that goes on between Bryce and Shirley, the niece of Colonel Pennington.
The romance between Bryce and Shirley is different from those that I have seen in other books as it is subtle and complicated by their conflicting alliances to their family businesses. With the rival businesses each fighting tooth and nail to come out on top it hardly provides a romantic environment and Shirley often displays mixed feelings about Bryce; “little by little, Shirley’s resentment against him faded, and in her heart was born a great wistfulness bred of the hope that some day she would meet Bryce Cardigan on the street and that he would pause, lift his hat, smile at her his compelling smile and, forthwith proceed to bully her into being friendly and forgiving--browbeat her into admitting her change of heart and glorying in it.” Shirley, being an individual business woman, a fact that I find to be a unique and refreshing aspect of her personality, uses her cunning to enter the game of business while still assuming the role of a perfect lady that wouldn’t understand such concepts in order to keep up appearances. Shirley proves to be a complex and entertaining character that keeps Bryce and the other characters on their toes.
Shirley’s character is complemented by that of Bryce Cardigan. Bryce being strong, confident, daring, and intelligent, yet still gentle, sportsmanly, and loving, especially towards his father. After returning from college as a well learned and traveled individual, Bryce steps up in his father’s place with new ideas and blends the traditions of business with the ingenuity of the future. Bryce is always sure of what he wants and is confident enough to speak his mind without fearing what others may think. He shows this in his running of the business and even when it comes to his feelings for Shirley; “I shall always love you; and when I get around to it, I’m going to ask you to marry me. At present, however, that is a right I do not possess. However, the day I acquire the right I shall exercise it.” A strong, well rounded man, Bryce proves himself to be a thoroughly enjoyable character to read about.
These two entertaining personalities wouldn’t make for as great of a story without the city of Sequoia though. The accuracy of the geographical location combined with the industry and how specifically the industry is described makes for a thoroughly convincing setting. Had the setting not been so believable it would have affected the rest of the story and a scene like this; “the donkey-engines above the vessels rattled; the cargo-gaffs of the steam schooner swung outward, and a moment later two great sling-loads of newly sawed lumber rose in the air, swung inward, and descended to the steamer’s decks. All about Bryce were scenes of activity,” wouldn’t have been as authentic and convincing either. The setting may seem like a minor thing that wouldn’t affect the story to some people, but without it the interactions between the characters and the businesses and the conflicts that arose wouldn’t have made much sense.
While this book may be a bit too mature for younger individuals, it can still be enjoyed by a wide range of people from around middle school age and up. The idea of it being a romance may not seem appealing, but the romance is really just another ploy used by the author to further complicate business matters, which is what really makes the book dramatic and interesting. Even though I am not into business or romance books, the characters and setting alone sucked me into the pages and made it hard for me to tear myself away. Overall, I must say, a thoroughly enjoyable and thrilling read that kept my attentions the entire way through and is sure to do the same for many others, perhaps even you.
“Strong in their faith to live their lives and love their loves, to dream their dreams and perchance when life should be done with and the hour of rest at hand, to surrender, sustained and comforted by the knowledge that those dreams had come true.” This quote sums up the mindsets of Bryce Cardigan and Shirley Sumner. Throughout The Valley of the Giants by Peter B. Kyne, Bryce and Shirley show how they are each determined to do business their way, willing to take risks and dream big, but also that they will accept defeat when fairly beaten. The interactions between these two lively characters and their attached businesses along with the realistic setting make for a wonderfully exciting adventure of a book.
The Valley of the Giants is set in Sequoia California, a fictional logging town in the middle of the California redwoods off of humboldt bay in the early 1900s. The first few chapters go over John Cardigan, his construction of the mill and the Cardigan Redwood Co., the expansion of the town, and the life he builds for himself and his son, Bryce Cardigan. During these chapters the reader is filled in on how John Cardigan strategically purchases timber that will provide business and profit for his son when he takes over the company. The years pass, Bryce goes off to college and when he returns finds that the company has fallen into trouble. Their biggest rival, the Laguna Grande Lumber Co., has finally beaten them down and, in just a year, will be able to deal the final blow. Bryce jumps in with a new daring, yet risky plan that just might, by some chance, be able to save the company. However, his plan will only work if Colonel Pennington, the president of the Laguna Grande Lumber co., doesn’t develop any suspicions and block the whole operation. And all this is complicated even more by the romance that goes on between Bryce and Shirley, the niece of Colonel Pennington.
The romance between Bryce and Shirley is different from those that I have seen in other books as it is subtle and complicated by their conflicting alliances to their family businesses. With the rival businesses each fighting tooth and nail to come out on top it hardly provides a romantic environment and Shirley often displays mixed feelings about Bryce; “little by little, Shirley’s resentment against him faded, and in her heart was born a great wistfulness bred of the hope that some day she would meet Bryce Cardigan on the street and that he would pause, lift his hat, smile at her his compelling smile and, forthwith proceed to bully her into being friendly and forgiving--browbeat her into admitting her change of heart and glorying in it.” Shirley, being an individual business woman, a fact that I find to be a unique and refreshing aspect of her personality, uses her cunning to enter the game of business while still assuming the role of a perfect lady that wouldn’t understand such concepts in order to keep up appearances. Shirley proves to be a complex and entertaining character that keeps Bryce and the other characters on their toes.
Shirley’s character is complemented by that of Bryce Cardigan. Bryce being strong, confident, daring, and intelligent, yet still gentle, sportsmanly, and loving, especially towards his father. After returning from college as a well learned and traveled individual, Bryce steps up in his father’s place with new ideas and blends the traditions of business with the ingenuity of the future. Bryce is always sure of what he wants and is confident enough to speak his mind without fearing what others may think. He shows this in his running of the business and even when it comes to his feelings for Shirley; “I shall always love you; and when I get around to it, I’m going to ask you to marry me. At present, however, that is a right I do not possess. However, the day I acquire the right I shall exercise it.” A strong, well rounded man, Bryce proves himself to be a thoroughly enjoyable character to read about.
These two entertaining personalities wouldn’t make for as great of a story without the city of Sequoia though. The accuracy of the geographical location combined with the industry and how specifically the industry is described makes for a thoroughly convincing setting. Had the setting not been so believable it would have affected the rest of the story and a scene like this; “the donkey-engines above the vessels rattled; the cargo-gaffs of the steam schooner swung outward, and a moment later two great sling-loads of newly sawed lumber rose in the air, swung inward, and descended to the steamer’s decks. All about Bryce were scenes of activity,” wouldn’t have been as authentic and convincing either. The setting may seem like a minor thing that wouldn’t affect the story to some people, but without it the interactions between the characters and the businesses and the conflicts that arose wouldn’t have made much sense.
While this book may be a bit too mature for younger individuals, it can still be enjoyed by a wide range of people from around middle school age and up. The idea of it being a romance may not seem appealing, but the romance is really just another ploy used by the author to further complicate business matters, which is what really makes the book dramatic and interesting. Even though I am not into business or romance books, the characters and setting alone sucked me into the pages and made it hard for me to tear myself away. Overall, I must say, a thoroughly enjoyable and thrilling read that kept my attentions the entire way through and is sure to do the same for many others, perhaps even you.
April 20, 2010
Peter B. Kyne is my father-in-law's beloved author. I read this book so we could talk about it. I will read more of his books for the same reason. The book was a fast read. It was intereting to see the author's view of women and minorities. The story was perfect for the old movies system. I am happy to have read it.
November 1, 2024
The book itself was dry, and seemed like a technical manual at times. This made it 50/50 interesting and boring. The story was predictable for the most part, but sweet and wholesome. All in all I would say I liked it.
December 18, 2022
Enjoyable and suspenseful. Listened to this on the trail and regretted whenever the trail ended. Good character development with one fellow reminded me of Mr. Potter from It's a Wonderful Life ....
October 8, 2023
I really enjoy reading classical literature, and I'd highly recommend checking out this book!
April 11, 2021
An epic, thundering novel told with a distinctly American Frontier optimism and bravado akin to the works of Edna Ferber and Emerson Hough. At times, a little larger than life, Kyne’s characters are vivid and memorable. His drama is authentic and rendered in thoughtful prose. While Kyne posits good drama over the more artful literary motifs and subtleties present in John Steinbeck’s novels, his drama doesn’t disappoint.
Kyne’s novels -this one included- are the literary equivalent to steak and potatoes: good men are tough, proud, and win the day. Good women are also tough, proud and -after marrying the good man- also win the day. They are filled with that post-Great War optimism that brought the United States into the center stage of Geo-Politics. Capitalism is king; progress is made possible by the strong, who in turn are nurtured with the fertile soil of the vast American Frontier. If all this sounds a bit corny, by all means give this a miss. In our age of cynicism, however, a little dose of this now and then can read like a breath of fresh air. It’s like watching an old 50’s movie on TCM.
As you might expect of an old novel like this, all of this ‘Americana’ is distinctly Anglo-centric. Additionally -and unfortunately- Kyne stooped to some negative racial stereotyping, which has and likely will continue to affect the readability of these novels into the future. Seeing beyond the prejudices so rampant in the literature of the era, Kyne has otherwise created a powerful American drama; authentic, gutsy and sweeping in scope.
Kyne’s novels -this one included- are the literary equivalent to steak and potatoes: good men are tough, proud, and win the day. Good women are also tough, proud and -after marrying the good man- also win the day. They are filled with that post-Great War optimism that brought the United States into the center stage of Geo-Politics. Capitalism is king; progress is made possible by the strong, who in turn are nurtured with the fertile soil of the vast American Frontier. If all this sounds a bit corny, by all means give this a miss. In our age of cynicism, however, a little dose of this now and then can read like a breath of fresh air. It’s like watching an old 50’s movie on TCM.
As you might expect of an old novel like this, all of this ‘Americana’ is distinctly Anglo-centric. Additionally -and unfortunately- Kyne stooped to some negative racial stereotyping, which has and likely will continue to affect the readability of these novels into the future. Seeing beyond the prejudices so rampant in the literature of the era, Kyne has otherwise created a powerful American drama; authentic, gutsy and sweeping in scope.
April 8, 2013
My edition the 1918 2nd edition. Interesting for an older book
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