Structure

On Gold Mountain is structured in chronological order. The book is divided into sections and labeled by Parts I through VI. Each part is subdivided into chapters of which there are 21 in all. Each chapter covers a certain time span, though the range varies depending on the events of the given years. For example, the first chapter covers the four years of Fong Dun Shung’s arrival in the United States, but the next chapter covers the twenty years of Fong See’s arrival and his business ventures. This fairly strict adherence to chronological order and divided structure allows for the reader to easily follow the evolution of the family and to keep the myriad of family members from becoming overwhelming or confusing.

The separate storylines of the Pruitts and Copelands are included, as both Ticie and Stella play a role in the family tree. First, Ticie...