The House of Rothschild: Volume 2: The World's Banker: 1849-1999

You need to read this to complete the story of the Rothschilds. Ferguson has done a spectacular job. Absorbing.

Amazing walk through the end of 18th and fully the 19th and much of the 20th centuries. The connection between the financiers and countries’ strategic moves are intertwined. The detail in this book is incredible.

BOOK REVIEW: FERGUSON, Niall - The House of Rothschild: Volume 2: The World’s Banker 1849-1998 e-ISBN: 978-1-101-15357-4 Read April, 23 - June, 12th, 2017 This second of two volumes on the history of The House of Rothschild, written by Harvard historian Niall Ferguson, continues the family’s adventures from the third to the fifth generation, and then up to the turn of the 21st century. With exception of the epilogue, which draws on public materials, the Author’s sources include the private correspondence of family members and is thus able to offer an original insight into the family’s history. Despite Ferguson’s clear and fluent prose, I sometimes felt lost in the narrative because of the growing number of family members, unable to know who was whom. As the first volume, this sequence has fourteen chapters grouped in three parts, plus an epilogue: Uncles and Nephews (chapters 1-5: the quest for emancipation; the fast social transformations of 1849-1858; impacts of nationalism; of the transition to the gold monetary standard; and the death of James, the last surviving son, and events leading to the 1870 war); through those of Cousins (chapters 6-13: the aftermath of war; the distancing of fourth generation Rothschilds from banking; Sionism; diversification from banking and the building of the multinational mining empire; involvement with politics, mainly in Britain; imperialism; the Games of Alliances; the financing of the arms race preceding 1914), to the times of Descendants (chapter 14, about the apparent decline of the family between 1915 and 1945). The Epilogue covers the period from the War to the 21st century and hails a revival of the Rothschild role in the world. The text is illustrated with graphs, tables, diagrams and figures; some sources are transcribed in the appendixes. Sadly, illustrations are difficult to follow on certain Kindle models, and notes were suppressed in the paper and Kindle editions. The scholarly reader should prefer the hardcover edition. It is difficult to say which of the two volumes is the best one. As with the first, Ferguson seems keener on unmasking myths and giving his say, in the new light of the private correspondence, on every deserving question ever posed in the vast literature than on presenting new questions or contrasting the family with other banks and financial empires in order to understand how the family created value or what the several branches’ roles were in the several multinational companies he mentions, when the Rothschild thrift and creativity outgrew financial markets. If this second volume offers perhaps less vivid depictions of the cousins and descendants personalities, it gains in detail and, maybe helped by more reliable sources, offers a somewhat sounder narrative. I’m no Rothschild specialist and this is the first book I read on the subject, but it left me with the feeling this set of books probably is the state of art on the subject. It was certainly a great read, albeit extensive. I do not hesitate in recommending it.

Well written books that stays interesting throughout and covers, in detail, over 100 years of influence the Rothschild family had over finance and politics in the Western world.

A fascinating story, but very heavy on detail and light on the characters involved, except for Natty who was more drawn out, which may have been because there was more resource material available to draw on, like old correspondence. I am sure the author would have liked some diaries as well. But thanks to this book I now have a vague understanding of the way the bond market for countries operates which was a mystery to me before. But I was looking for more about the people although there was a lot of detail about the stats which were very hard (impossible) to read in the Kindle format so I had to skip and go forward. My suspicion is that this book is aimed as the business economics degree market and not at the popular reader, which is me.

Please don't hesitate to read, very beautiful and insightful book about a Family's history. I have alot of respect for the hard work and dedication this family has gone through and what it is too today. A very good read.

My book arrived much faster than I expected, and it was in very good condition as described by the seller.

Both volumes are solidly based on extensive primary source digging, framed by historiographical perspective. The author does well to tell the story with enough topical elaboration to satisfy most economic historians. The writing style is smooth, making a story that is at times necessarily arcane accessible to most readers. The occasional lengthy quotations might lose some non-expert readers, but they often fill out the human dimensions of the detailed history. Easily, one of the most significant works to appear in its general field in some time.

Bought these books for my husband! Well written and he is really enjoying them

My godfather Rothschild

Excellent, well-written, detailed, objective history of financial business in 19th and early 20th Centuries. Centred on a famous banking family. Superb rating.

super

Great book, genuine printed soft cover. The quality of the paper was nice, and I could see it was from a genuine publication. The book itself was a great read, I ordered both parts 1 and 2 and would highly recommend if you have an interest in financial history and economics.