Joseph Wechsberg (1907–1983)

The author notes in the introduction to this book that he came from a family of merchant bankers; it shows, as this book is, in general, a very gentle and positive look at a number of banking powers. Time has not been very good to some of the firms represented in the book, most notably Barings and Lehman Brothers. The book came out in the mid-1960s, at a time when the old ways were starting to die out. The culture depicted in the book, I believe, has almost completely vanished, with the possible exception of the last, rather insubstantial, chapter on the Rothschilds. (For the Rothschilds, you're better off with Niall Ferguson's two-volume history.) A pleasant, but not a very deep read, mostly for folks who love the idea of the old-fashioned merchant bankers meeting in wood-panelled rooms. Not really recommended, as the material in the book is treated better elsewhere.… (más)