The Golden Lane is a true story about the Tampico Oil Boom from 1909-1914. All the characters were real people. Most of the events happened as described. The story follows the early career of Everette DeGolyer, whose oil discoveries propelled Mexico into one of the largest oil producing nations at the time when the world's industries and navies became dependent on foreign crude, foreshadowing World War I and today's reliance on Mideast oil. At the same time, the Mexican Revolution swept the country into a decade-long era of violence. The book portrays the unfolding development of petroleum geology against a backdrop of revolution, foreign intrigue, and geopolitics. It's also a love story.