The Valley of the Giants is a novel by Peter B. Kyne that tells the story of two rival lumber companies in Northern California during the early 20th century. The main character, Bryce Cardigan, inherits his father's lumber company and is determined to modernize and expand it. However, he faces opposition from a rival company led by Jules Rondeau, who will stop at nothing to maintain his dominance in the industry.As the two companies battle for control of the valley, Bryce finds himself falling in love with the daughter of his rival, Shirley Rondeau. Despite their families' animosity towards each other, Bryce and Shirley's love for each other grows stronger. Meanwhile, a group of environmentalists led by a character named John Cardigan (Bryce's uncle) are fighting to preserve the redwood forests from being destroyed by the lumber companies.The novel is a thrilling tale of love, rivalry, and environmentalism set against the backdrop of the beautiful and majestic redwood forests of Northern California. It explores themes of greed, ambition, and the importance of preserving nature for future generations. The Valley of the Giants is a classic American novel that has been enjoyed by generations of readers since its publication in 1918.1918. Begins: 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.