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The House of Rothschild: Volume 1: Money's Prophets: 1798-1848 [Paperback]

Niall Ferguson
3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)

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Book Description

November 1, 1999
In his rich and nuanced portrait of the remarkable, elusive Rothschild family, Oxford scholar and bestselling author Niall Ferguson uncovers the secrets behind the family's phenomenal economic success. He reveals for the first time the details of the family's vast political network, which gave it access to and influence over many of the greatest statesmen of the age. And he tells a family saga, tracing the importance of family unity and the profound role of Judaism in the lives of a dynasty that rose from the confines of the Frankfurt ghetto and later used its influence to assist oppressed Jews throughout Europe. A definitive work of impeccable scholarship with a thoroughly engaging narrative, The House of Rothschild is a biography of the rarest kind, in which mysterious and fascinating historical figures finally spring to life.

Frequently Bought Together

The House of Rothschild: Volume 1: Money's Prophets: 1798-1848 + The House of Rothschild: Volume 2: The World's Banker: 1849-1999 + The House of Morgan: An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance
Price for all three: $53.74

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Founded in the late 18th century by expatriate German Jews, the London-based House of Rothschild was within decades the largest banking enterprise in the world. Its principals controlled a vast portion of the industrial world's wealth--more so, Oxford historian Niall Ferguson writes, than any family has since--and as a result enjoyed tremendous political influence in the major capitals of Europe, counting as allies such important figures as Metternich and Wellington. That influence would provoke countless anti-Semitic tracts fulminating against Jewish usury and against the power of "Eastern potentates" in the empires of England and France. Although the Rothschilds were well aware of their power and not reluctant to use it, they operated fairly, Ferguson notes. For example, whereas lending rates in the textile industry, in which the Rothschilds got their start, were often 20 percent, the fledgling house charged 5 to 9 percent. Through shrewd, complex negotiations they helped promote peace and the beginnings of economic union throughout Europe.

Ferguson's sprawling history covers much ground and involves a cast of hundreds of players. At the outset he notes that his book was commissioned by the modern descendants of the House of Rothschild; even so, he approaches his task with careful balance and a critical eye, pointing out the Rothschilds' failings as well as successes. The result is a fine, solid contribution to economic history, one that, unlike so many books in the field, is eminently readable. --Gregory McNamee

About the Author

Niall Ferguson is Laurence A. Tisch Professor of History at Harvard University, a Senior Research Fellow of Jesus College, Oxford University, and a Senior Fellow of the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. The bestselling author of Paper and Iron, The House of Rothschild, The Pity of War, The Cash Nexus, Empire, and Colossus, he also writes regularly for newspapers and magazines all over the world. Since 2003 he has written and presented three highly successful television documentary series for British television: Empire, American Colossus, and, most recently, The War of the World.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 672 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Books; First Edition edition (November 1, 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0140240845
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140240849
  • Product Dimensions: 6.3 x 1.3 x 9 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #73,089 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Too much information is not always a good thing. deathntaxes  |  3 reviewers made a similar statement
Nor have you read many other books on the subject of great banking and business dynasties. Peter T. Wolf  |  4 reviewers made a similar statement
The book could cut out 100-200 pages and move to a 4 star. M. Smith  |  4 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
85 of 91 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Know your European history before you pick this up February 16, 2005
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have just finished reading the second volume of this extensive history of the Rothschild family. The author was given access to private writings of the family members, who were avid correspondents with one another. As a result, he is able to bring insight and additional historical information into the narrative of this famous financial house -- or rather houses -- as there were five established during the period of the family's greatest fame and influence. The author makes a strong case that financial constraints definitely limited the actions of nations as they sought to finance their wars and reparations when they lost.

While the two volume work has great sweep, it lacks depth. One senses that since the Rothschild heirs gave the author access to previously unseen source materials, he was reluctant to level serious criticism against the family. Remember, in many cases the financing they provided governments was the necessary, but not sufficient, ingredient for great human suffering -- the very point of these volumes. It is not all a dark picture for the family's activities, far from it, but a blind eye has been turned. More importantly, one turns away from the effort of reading these volumes feeling unfulfilled. Of all that he has written, what was the significance of this great family's prodigious financial activity? Were they a force for good or evil? On balance, has humanity benefitted or been ill served by them? These questions linger as the second volume concludes, and they remain unanswered, or at least, without an answer from this obviously talented and hard working author.

An essential, if unsatisfying, work.
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66 of 74 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Much more than a family saga November 6, 2005
Format:Paperback
Those who already know Niall Ferguson do not need any praise for the books he writes: a few years ago I chanced to read his excellent "The Cash Nexus" and this led me to "The Pity of War" and finally to "The House of Rothschild".

Ferguson is a scholar who loves challenges: not just challenging arguments, but also challenges in the sheer volume of sources and research, and finally challenges to the reader in presenting controversial theses (I think specially of those advanced brilliantly, and contentiously, in "The Pity of War" - see my review if interested).

This last effort is mainly an attempt to unveil the Rothschild mythology, restoring an historically accurate perspective both of the family saga and of the banking and financial European history from 1798 to 1848.

The book is a masterpiece for many reasons: not just story of a family (circumscribed to the male members), not just story of a great banking institution in the past two centuries, but also comprehensive financial history of the first half of XIX century... "a rich and nuanced portrait" as the book leaflet reads - that reveals and hides, but also creates an appealing and fascinated image of those turbulent years.

So, it can appeal the history buff, and all those readers interested in financial history (and speculative bubbles) as well as those interested in biography and cultural history.
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25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars A little too detailed June 23, 2006
Format:Paperback
I have to start out by saying overall I enjoyed the book but I would only rate it as an average book. It is a little too detailed and didn't keep my interest from one chapter to the next. It would have been better if it left out 150 pages or so. I found myself doing a lot of skiming over what I would say was boring filler in the book. You can learn a lot about the type of business that that Rothschilds were in but not a lot of how they went about doing it.

After reading this it seems that the Rothschilds were in the business of making large loans to governments and then packaging these loans as bonds and selling them to the public. They were as much bond and commodity traders as they were bankers, which I found interesting. There are numerous quotes from letters written back and forth between family members that will give you a sense of their personalities. The family history is very detailed so if this is the kind of thing you are interested in then you will probably enjoy the book more then I did.
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9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Are we all reading the same books?? August 21, 2011
Format:Paperback
I am astounded at the scathing comments you all are writing about these books. Evidently this subject does not interest you. Nor have you read many other books on the subject of great banking and business dynasties. And that's ok, but it disqualifies you from making an accurate judgement, just as I would be in reviewing a book about advanced astrophysics. These two books are without doubt not only Fergussons' best, they are also among THE best ever written in this genre. How he got access to some of this information is amazing. Iv'e read more books than I can count on the Morgans, Rockefellers, Vanderbilts, Astors, Duponts, and Rothchilds, and I can tell you that this two volume set is near the top amongst them all. Not only do you get the full history of this incredible family, you also get a university class in European business history. Now, if that's not what interests you, then you really had no reason to read these books, let alone review them.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars another book expected as the Messiah
I have not gone to thisibook yet, lack of time, that is all, but I know how well versed the author is, again comes to my mind Allende and as she cannot cease to be who she is I... Read more
Published 24 days ago by rod
1.0 out of 5 stars Overly detailed
This book is not lacking detail, but it tends to drag on. You can skim over a page or two of specific detail transactions that you will easily forget in half an hour. Read more
Published 6 months ago by M. Smith
1.0 out of 5 stars Dull
This long-winded and dull history is nothing more than an apologist's love letter to the rich and powerful. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Matthew Cash
5.0 out of 5 stars Details only a buff could love
The author obviously had documented insight into the relationship between the Rothchild frere cinque, along with intimate knowledge of their financial dealings. Read more
Published 7 months ago by financial history buff
5.0 out of 5 stars Financial history must read
My biggest criticism of this book is that it is far from impartial to the Rothchild family, which is understandable considering Mr. Ferguson's amicable relationship with it. Read more
Published 9 months ago by rkruger
2.0 out of 5 stars House of Rothchild Vol 1
How totally ignorant is it that Volume 2 can be purchased for the Kindle when Volume 1 can't be purchased for the Kindle ? Read more
Published 17 months ago by Brian M. Morrell
4.0 out of 5 stars Ferguson's Best
The work is outstanding. Long before he seemingly wrote the same book over and over again (the West is falling, the West is falling, America is in decline, etc. Read more
Published 18 months ago by J. Smallridge
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended for fans of European history
Perhaps my favorite of all Ferguson's works, this is more a book about history than a book about banking. Read more
Published on March 30, 2011 by S. Woodhouse
5.0 out of 5 stars Great read
I can say nothing more than has already been said by individuals with much greater credentials than my own that have placed their 'golden seal of approval on the cover', other than... Read more
Published on March 5, 2011 by Ed
2.0 out of 5 stars Too much Detail
Overall the amount of detail put into this book is way too much. I'm an accountant who loves reading reading economic and accounting books but this book bored me to tears. Read more
Published on February 13, 2011 by deathntaxes
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