Overview

Iron Empires tells the story of the men who created the all-important nationwide railroad system that spread across the country during the Gilded Age of the late nineteenth century - a time where industrialisation accelerated, fortunes were made and squandered, and the ruthless robber barons of the United States pursued wealth and power by any means necessary. Two of the giants of the age, J.P. Morgan and E.H. Harriman, fought for primacy of the all-important railways and remade American industry in the process. Their conflict culminated in the greatest and most controversial corporate takeover battle in American history as Morgan and Harriman jostled over the Northern Pacific railroad. The nationwide securities market would be shaken to its core, and thousands of investors would see their fortunes eradicated as collateral damage in this titanic struggle for supremacy. Featuring a glittering and colourful cast of con men, tycoons and Wall Street operators, Iron Empires tells the story of how the Morgan-Harriman war turned railroads into an industry and, in the process, defined an age.

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9781398100268

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'Were the railroad barons of the 19th century great entrepreneurs in the American spirit who built a remarkable network of railroads? Or were they robbers who fleeced local people and passengers alike? In this superb and comprehensive book, Hiltzik lets you decide, with the help of a few hints.' -- Christian Wolmar, author the Great Railroad Revolution 'Unbridled ambition, greed, corruption, 'creative destruction,' and a bit of conscience - Michael Hiltzik's vivid account of the railroad barons in the Gilded Age shows us the workings of unbridled capitalism at its zenith (or nadir, as the case may be). The names Morgan, Harriman, Pullman, Hill, Villard, Rockefeller will forever be associated with creating America's first great infrastructure and making America 'modern.'' -- Gordon H. Chang, author of Ghosts of Gold Mountain: The Epic Story of the Chinese Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad 'This prodigiously researched book tells the fascinating stories of the railroad barons who did so much to build America, not only through their vision and genius, but also through their cunning and ruthlessness. Hiltzik's brilliant narrative - of power and plutocrats - often bears uncanny parallels to what's happening in America today.' -- Steven Greenhouse, author of Beaten Down, Worked Up: The Past, Present and Future of American Labor

Author Information

Michael Hiltzik is a Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist and author who has covered business, technology, and public policy for the Los Angeles Times for three decades. He currently serves as the Times’s business columnist and hosts its business blog, The Economy Hub. Hiltzik received the 1999 Pulitzer Prize for articles exposing corruption in the entertainment industry. He lives in Southern California with his wife and two children.

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