In this first-ever biography of one of Nevada's most reviled historical figures, author Michael Makley examines William Sharon's complex nature and the turbulent times in which he flourished. Makley's engaging and meticulously researched account lays bare the life of the notorious but enigmatic Sharon. He also examines the broader historical context of Sharon's career - the complex business relationships between San Francisco and the booming gold and silver mining camps of the Far West; the machinations of rampant Gilded Age capitalism; and the sophisticated financial and technological infrastructure supporting Virginia City's boomtown economy.