Authors: Frank Norris, Kevin Starr
ISBN-13: 9780140187700, ISBN-10: 0140187707
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Penguin Group (USA) Incorporated
Date Published: August 1994
Edition: Reissue
The Octopus is a story of cooperate greed, power, and abuse. A group of wheat farmers agree to work a railway company's land in exchange for assurances that after a ten year period they will be able to purchase the land at a reasonable price. When it comes time for the purchase of the land the railway company decides to go back on its promise and brings all of their power to bear against the farmers in a deceitful and bloody confrontation. Inspired by Southern Pacific Railroad's action in the Mussel Slough Tragedy.