Cup of Gold

Henry Morgan, a boy living a quiet life on a Welsh farm, is inspired to leave home and seek his fortune in the West Indies by the colorful tales of a pirate returning from sea. As he rises to become a famous buccaneer captain, Morgan pursues two ultimate prizes: the vast riches of Panama City, known as the "Cup of Gold," and the legendary "Red Saint," a woman rumored to be fairer than the sun. A Cup of Gold leads readers on a romantic adventure full of idealism and disillusionment while still pointing subtly towards the realism and moral scrutiny that would suffuse Steinbeck's later works, most notably Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath.

John Steinbeck's first novel, published in 1929, is a work of romanticized historical fiction and allegory based loosely on the life of 17th-century privateer Sir Henry Morgan. The novel chronicles Morgan's life and his successful assault and sacking of Panama City, culminating in his pursuit of the elusive woman he covets. Ultimately, the story concludes with the pirate's surprising return to England, where his career ends with a royal knighthood and a new role in disciplining other buccaneers. 

Since our inception in 2020, Mint Editions has kept sustainability and innovation at the forefront of our mission. Each and every Mint Edition title gets a fresh, professionally typeset manuscript and a dazzling new cover, all while maintaining the integrity of the original book.

With thousands of titles in our collection, we aim to spotlight diverse public domain works to help them find modern audiences. Mint Editions celebrates a breadth of literary works, curated from both canonical and overlooked classics from writers around the globe.

While major retailers like Amazon may carry Cup of Gold, we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.

We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.

Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of Cup of Gold.