Founder: Meyer Amschel Rothschild and his time - Softcover

Elon, Amos

Softcover

ISBN 10: 000638773X ISBN 13: 9780006387732

Publisher: HarperCollins, 1998

Synopsis

‘The best short biography of the year... a tour de force.’ Ian McIntyre, The Times

By the middle of the nineteenth century the five Rothschild brothers – in London, Frankfurt, Paris, Vienna and Naples – controlled the finances of Europe more closely than any family ever had before, and were a byword for the power which great wealth can bring with it.

But the man who founded this dynasty has always been an elusive figure who generally merits no more than a few pages in books which concentrate on the achievements of his offspring.

Amos Elon’s wonderful biography Founder gives us, in as complete a form as possible, the life of this remarkable man for the first time.

About this title

Review:

‘[A] slim volume but a thoroughly absorbing one’
Chaim Bermant, Sunday Telegraph

‘Anyone who wants to understand the deep psychological drives that lie behind [the Rothschilds’] success should read this classic account.’
Niall Ferguson, Sunday Times

‘Elon tells us that there is no authentic likeness of Meyer, but he has succeeded, with his own kind of clear-headed admiration, in bringing him to life.’
Penelope Fitzgerald, Evening Standard

‘A triumph for hidden history’
J. B. Pick, Scotsman

From the Back Cover:

By the middle of the nineteenth century, the five Rothschild brothers – in London, Frankfurt, Paris, Vienna, and Naples – controlled the finances of Europe more closely than any family ever had before, and were a byword for the power which great wealth can bring with it. But the man who founded this dynasty has always been an elusive figure who generally merits no more than a few pages in books which concentrate on the achievements of his offspring. Amos Elon’s 'Founder' gives us, in as complete a form as possible, the life of this remarkable man for the first time.

” “ You can’t have too many Rothschilds,” said Disraeli ( reasonably enough – they had, after all, secured the Suez canal for his Royal mistress.) This stylish, scholarly book tells the story of the first of them, Meyer Amschel. Born in 1744, he lived his whole life in the Frankfurt ghetto. A century later, his widow could say: “There will be no war in Europe. My sons will not provide the money for it. “ A tour de force.”
IAN McINTYRE, 'The Times'

”A triumph for hidden history.”
J. B. PICK, 'Scotsman'

”This slim, charming volume succeeds in snatching its elusive subjects from oblivion.”
RON CHERNOW, 'New York Times Book Review'

”Anyone who wants to understand the deep psychological drives that lie behind [the Rothschilds’] success should read this classic account.”
Niall Ferguson,'Sunday Times'

“[A] Slim volume but a thoroughly absorbing one”
CHAIM BERMANT, 'Sunday Telegraph'

“Elon tells us that there is no authentic likeness of Meyer, but he has succeeded, with his own kind of clear headed admiration, in bringing him to life.”
PENELOPE FITZGERALD, 'Evening Standard'

”A scholarly yet stylish and exceptionally well illustrated volume.”
KENNETH ROSE, 'Literary Review'

About this edition

• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Publication date: 1998
• ISBN 10: 000638773X
• ISBN 13: 9780006387732
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 208