THE BRONFMANS: The Rise and Fall of the House of Seagram - Softcover

Nicholas Faith

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0312332203 ISBN 13: 9780312332204

Publisher: St. Martins Press, 2008

Synopsis

The Bronfmans family story is a fascinating and improbable saga. It is dominated by "Mr Sam," the single greatest figure in the history of the liquor business, the man who made drinking whisky respectable in the United States and built Seagram into the first worldwide empire in wine and spirits.After Sam's death in 1971, his oldest son, Edgar, maintained the business, and masterminded a major coup when he translated a small investment in oil made by his father into a 25 per cent stake in the mighty DuPont company.But in the 1990's, Edgar allowed his son Edgar, Jr to play media tycoon. The stake in Dupont was sold and reinvested in Universal, which was practically given away in a merger with French media giant Vivendi. When the bubble burst, the family lost Seagram and an untold fortune.The story of this amazing family is about more than booze and business.

About this title

Review:

""The Bronfmans" is a wonderful addition to the library of family biographies, and in particular to the small shelf on the Canadian-grown Seagram whiskey empire. Splendidly written and researched--particularly on the alcoholic beverage side, of which Nicholas Faith is a distinguished expert--this book is a rollicking good story, a perceptive analysis of the Bronfmans' stunning business success, a tribute to their hard work and acumen--and a cautionary tale about what can happen, even to the greatest." --Michael R. Marrus, author of "Samuel Bronfman: The Life and Times of Mr. Sam" ""The Bronfmans" is an intriguing odyssey of a fabled and star-crossed celebrity family, filled with engrossing tales of the secrets of the international booze business, backroom billion-dollar shenanigans, dilettante playboys and rakes, rediscovered Jewish heritage, and an unusual champion of human rights." --Selwyn Raab, bestselling author of "Five Families: The Rise, Decline, and Resurgence of America's Most Powerful Mafia Empires" Praise for Nicholas Faith's Other Books" ""The Winemakers of Bordeaux" "Anyone wanting an introduction to this inexhaustible subject will be delighted by Mr. Faith, who knows how to tell a story with vivacity." --Theodore Zeldin, author of "An Intimate History of Humanity" "An absorbing book." --Frank Prial, "The New York Times"" ""Safety in Numbers" "An interesting dossier on assorted bad judgment, chicanery, and loose practices."""--John Kenneth Galbraith "Investigative journalism of the highest order." --"Barron's"" """"Useful and readable tour through the dark side of Swiss banking." --"BusinessWeek"

About the Author:

Nicholas Faith is a distinguished veteran journalist, a former senior editor at "The Economist" and the London" Sunday Times." He also founded and was chairman of the International Spirits Challenge, now the most prestigious event of its kind in the world. He has written twenty-three books, including "The Winemakers of Bordeaux" and "Safety in Numbers: The Mysterious World of Swiss Banking."

About this edition

• Publisher: St. Martins Press
• Publication date: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0312332203
• ISBN 13: 9780312332204
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 352