Allen, Frederick Lewis — The Lords of Creation

New York and London, Harper & Brothers, Publishers, 1935. First edition (stated) with I-K below statement. Hardcover. Red cloth with embossed seal in lower right ront cover, embossed title upon spine. xii, 483 pp. (3) Illustrated by 16 b&w photographs on 8 plates. The previous owner of this book was Harry L. Wells, of Evanston, IL. Wells was an Alumnus of Northwestern University and served it in varying capacities, including being appointed Business Manager in 1934. He has signed the book with the address of 1936 Sheridan Road. A pleasant surprise to find this as such a sturdy, clean and desirable example of this scarce title. Quite suitable for gift giving though the spine lettering is somewhat faded. Preface, 14 chapters, appendix and index. A scarce and classic financial history of US (1890-1929) written at the height of the Great Depression. Allen was an historian educated at Groton and Harvard, as well as Associate Editor of Harpers. As stated elsewhere: Frederick Lewis Allen’s insightful financial history of the United States—from the late 1800s through the stock market collapse of 1929—remains a seminal work on what brought on America’s worst economic disaster: the Great Depression. In the decades following the Civil War, America entered an era of unprecedented corporate expansion, with ultimate financial power in the hands of a few wealthy industrialists who exploited the capitalist system for everything it was worth. The Rockefellers, Fords, Morgans, and Vanderbilts were the “lords of creation” who, along with like-minded magnates, controlled the economic destiny of the country, unrestrained by regulations or moral imperatives. Through a combination of foresight, ingenuity, ruthlessness, and greed, America’s giants of industry remolded the US economy in their own preferred image. In so doing, they established their absolute power and authority, ensuring that they—and they alone—would control the means of production, transportation, energy, and commerce—thereby setting the stage for the most devastating global financial collapse in history. As Gretchen Morgenson thoughtfully states in her introduction, “It is not immediately clear why the frequency and severity of financial scandals is increasing in the United States. What is clear is that we need to understand the origins of these disasters, as well as the policies and people that bring them on. While distant actions may seem unrelated to current events, rereading about the past almost always provides surprising insights into the present.” The Lords of Creation, first published in the midst of the Great Depression, when the financial catastrophe was still painfully fresh, is a fascinating story of bankers, railroad tycoons, steel magnates, speculators, scoundrels, and robber barons. It is a tale of innovation and shocking exploitation—and a sobering reminder that history can indeed repeat itself. VG A solid clean copy, previous owner's name inked on inside of front cover, no other marks, top and bottom of spine solid with no wear or tears. No surprises .