'The Spirit of Sweetwater' is a novel written by Hamlin Garland. Set during the Gold Rush era, the story begins as a poor yet intelligent young man arrives at the village of Sweetwater Springs. Two years and four months later, he is the owner of a mine worth three million dollars and is recognized by the people of the village. He takes a vacation for the first time to mix with others and secretly hopes to find a wife among the women of the village. Despite his wealth, he is still a self-unconscious man who does not realize how widely known he is. He is a handsome figure but does not consider his appearance to be significant.
