Even before he was shot dead on the stairway of the tony Grand Central Hotel in 1872; financier James “Jubilee Jim†Fisk; Jr.; was a notorious New York City figure. From his audacious attempt to corner the gold market in 1869 to his battle for control of the geographically crucial Erie Railroad; Fisk was a flamboyant exemplar of a new financial era marked by volatile fortunes and unprecedented greed and corruption. But it was his scandalously open affair with a showgirl named Josie Mansfield that ultimately led to his demise. In this riveting short history; H. W. Brands traces Fisk’s extraordinary downfall; bringing to life New York’s Gilded Age and some of its legendary players; including Boss William Tweed; Cornelius Vanderbilt; and the railroad tycoon Jay Gould.
#344089 in Books 2010-04-20 2010-04-20Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.99 x .70 x 5.20l; .58 #File Name: 030739395X344 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Page turner!By RoadRunnerBpBpGreat book that covers not only the sport but a tragic time in history that we should should never forget. I couldn't put it down and have recommended it to numerous other tennis enthusiasts who also enjoyed it. I bought it in hardback as I knew there were pictures in that I wanted to see on paper vs Kindle format.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Wonderful snapshot into Geopolitical History and TennisBy Bryan GrantFull Disclosure: My grandfather; Bryan M. "Bitsy" Grant; Jr. is prominently feature in this book; so I will have a large degree of supportive bias; or perhaps I would be even MORE critical of the work. You decide.I ran across this recently; and even contacted the author; since he made several references to my grandfather. One reference; in particular involved Frank Shields; actress Brooke Shields' grandfather; holding my grandfather Bitsy out of the 3rd story window of their London hotel by his ankle. I had heard this story directly from my grandpa late one night in 1986 when we shared a room together while I was in high school and he was suffering from terminal cancer. I thought it was a tall tale and that it happened either in Chicago or in Memphis at the Peabody Hotel; where Bitsy would take my father as a child to see the Ducks march up and down the elevators in the lobby. The author confirmed he possessed several distinct sources for the story and that it happened in London!The book deals with the Davis Cup; the sexual orientation of a German national tennis legend; World War II; the Nazi's; the British; and all that surrounded that era. Bitsy was on the Davis Cup team at the time; and faired rather well; surprising the press in those days since they viewed his background as not up to par to compete; much less win.It is a well-written story; and really does reflect a high level of scholarly research into all the players and circumstances written about in the story. There are also some choice photographs.As for my grandfather; several books have been written; but are mostly a sort of "Atlanta History of Tennis" with a "player on each page" historical book. This is the only properly written; professional quality story that prominently features Bitsy Grant.My hat is off to Mr. Fisher!0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A noble story; skilfully toldBy Grant HildebrandThe author offers a detailed account of the magnificent Davis Cup tennis match of July; 1937; between Baron Gottfried von Cramm of Germany and Donald Budge of the United States; a match many believe was the greatest ever played. But Fisher uses the match also as a focus for a chronicle of America and Europe; and especially Germany; in the 1920s and '30s; and he completes this splendid book by tracing the lives of Cramm; Budge; and Bill Tilden both before and after the match; and before and after the war that is the ever-present undercurrent of the tale. Fisher's literary skills are of a quality to do full justice to this remarkable story. He begins with von Cramm's toss of the ball for the first service of the match; and ends with a re-telling of Budge's amazing match point forehand. The most memorable phrases in the book; however -- it could not be otherwise -- are von Cramms; his words to Budge; in perfect English; after the match. "Don;" von Cramm said; "this was absolutely the finest match I have ever played in my life. I'm very happy that I could have played it against you; whom I like so much. Congratulations."An account of memorable events; flawlessly presented.
