Subtitled a "Story of California," for 10 points, name this novel, the first in the proposed "Epic of Wheat" trilogy by Frank Norris, which takes its title from the nickname indicating the sprawling reach of the railroad interests.
The farmer Osterman hosts a communal dinner at which he suggests creating a Farmer's League and bribing the nicknamed title entity in this novel. Osterman brings in Annixter, owner of the Quien Sabe Rancho, and both work to convince Magnus Derrick to fight Mr. Behrman's efforts to buy or seize their land in the San Joaquin Valley for use by the Pacific and Southwestern Railroad. Subtitled a "Story of California," for 10 points, name this novel, the first in the proposed "Epic of Wheat" trilogy by Frank Norris, which takes its title from the nickname indicating the sprawling reach of the railroad interests.
The farmer Osterman hosts a communal dinner at which he suggests creating a Farmer's League and bribing the nicknamed title entity in this novel.
The {Octopus}