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The Rothschilds
Perhaps no other name in history can so truly encapsulate the phrase “rags to riches” as Rothschild does.
In the late eighteenth century, it was a gentle, astute Jew born in a Frankfurt ghetto, Mayer Amschel Rothschild, whose interest in old coins and canny investments would set the family on the path to becoming one of the most powerful dynasties of Europe.
Ennobled by the Austrian Emperor, soon the Rothschild name would become a household name.
Kings and princes, generals and businessmen, whether their move was political or economic, in a time of war or a time of peace, the controlling force behind them would be the Rothschild family.
Dazzlingly rich, the energetic, brilliant and downright extraordinary members of the Rothschild family were the force responsible for innovations in banking throughout the nineteenth century.
Times have changed and dynasties crumbled, but this marvelously rich history tells how the Rothschilds always endure.
In the late eighteenth century, it was a gentle, astute Jew born in a Frankfurt ghetto, Mayer Amschel Rothschild, whose interest in old coins and canny investments would set the family on the path to becoming one of the most powerful dynasties of Europe.
Ennobled by the Austrian Emperor, soon the Rothschild name would become a household name.
Kings and princes, generals and businessmen, whether their move was political or economic, in a time of war or a time of peace, the controlling force behind them would be the Rothschild family.
Dazzlingly rich, the energetic, brilliant and downright extraordinary members of the Rothschild family were the force responsible for innovations in banking throughout the nineteenth century.
Times have changed and dynasties crumbled, but this marvelously rich history tells how the Rothschilds always endure.
338 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1973
1784 people are currently reading
1038 people want to read
About the author
Virginia Cowles
28 books66 followers(Harriet) Virginia Spencer Cowles OBE was a noted American journalist, biographer, and travel writer. During her long career, Cowles went from covering fashion, to covering the Spanish Civil War, the turbulent period in Europe leading up to World War II, and the entire war. Her service as a correspondent was recognized by the British government with an Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1947. After the war, she published a number of critically acclaimed biographies of historical figures. In 1983, while traveling with her husband in France, she was killed in an automobile accident near Biarritz.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 65 reviews
November 7, 2018
This is a brief glance at the Rothschild family bringing them up to date, or at least as up to date as they were about fifty years ago. I found the book essentially a work of praise for the family, and while I have no ideological qualm about them, I do doubt any "biography" that spans about two hundred years and does no find a single thing that could be criticised.
From the first, the members of the family are brought to the forefront and described in their brilliant schemes in the service of governments and against opposing banking factions. All's good, but there could have been a lot more depth to the story. While the writing is accessible, it is therefore not a thorough picture that's painted for the reader's viewing, and in many a case it seemed that extra effort had been put in to find a quote from (yet another) politician to praise the family.
At the same time, the technological innovativeness which enabled the family to carry out some of its banking manoeuvres was not really described, giving only half a look into what and how they won their fortunes. Therefore, this makes a better (bedtime) story than a good research overview, and there're plenty of gaps left to fill in after reading this book.
This review was originally posted on my blog.
From the first, the members of the family are brought to the forefront and described in their brilliant schemes in the service of governments and against opposing banking factions. All's good, but there could have been a lot more depth to the story. While the writing is accessible, it is therefore not a thorough picture that's painted for the reader's viewing, and in many a case it seemed that extra effort had been put in to find a quote from (yet another) politician to praise the family.
At the same time, the technological innovativeness which enabled the family to carry out some of its banking manoeuvres was not really described, giving only half a look into what and how they won their fortunes. Therefore, this makes a better (bedtime) story than a good research overview, and there're plenty of gaps left to fill in after reading this book.
This review was originally posted on my blog.
August 20, 2016
This is a workmanlike biography of a family--the Rothschilds, whose financial accomplishments were extraordinary for the time. The book is functionally written, not elegantly so. But the information and detail makes this a fine work. Regrettably, the book was published some time ago. It would be nice to see where the family is today. But that is a mere cavil.
The tale begins many years ago, in Hamburg Germany, as Mayer Amschel Rothschild, living in a Jewish ghetto, began his business career in a modest way. What is astonishing how--from these humble beginnings in business--he and his successors developed a financial empire. This volume does an excellent job in tracing the evolution of the family--and making the various figures into human beings.
Over time, the family's influence spread, with branches of the family business appearing in Austria, Italy, France, and Great Britain, as well as--of course--Germany. Over time, the family trimmed back from this far flung network.
However, the family remained a major player for many years. One key factor is how well the brothers and nephews and grandsons were able to work together over time. Over the centuries, there were some ne'er do wells, but I found it very interesting to see how hard the family worked (for the most part). There were times that the Rothschilds could tame cross-national fiscal downturns (reminiscent of later figures, e.g., in the United States to Astors and J. P. Morgan).
Over time, the role of any family could no longer dominate. Thus, it it of much interest to see how the family adapted. Some moved toward success in the wine industry, for example.
All in all, a very well rendered family biography. Well worth reading.
The tale begins many years ago, in Hamburg Germany, as Mayer Amschel Rothschild, living in a Jewish ghetto, began his business career in a modest way. What is astonishing how--from these humble beginnings in business--he and his successors developed a financial empire. This volume does an excellent job in tracing the evolution of the family--and making the various figures into human beings.
Over time, the family's influence spread, with branches of the family business appearing in Austria, Italy, France, and Great Britain, as well as--of course--Germany. Over time, the family trimmed back from this far flung network.
However, the family remained a major player for many years. One key factor is how well the brothers and nephews and grandsons were able to work together over time. Over the centuries, there were some ne'er do wells, but I found it very interesting to see how hard the family worked (for the most part). There were times that the Rothschilds could tame cross-national fiscal downturns (reminiscent of later figures, e.g., in the United States to Astors and J. P. Morgan).
Over time, the role of any family could no longer dominate. Thus, it it of much interest to see how the family adapted. Some moved toward success in the wine industry, for example.
All in all, a very well rendered family biography. Well worth reading.
February 14, 2017
The info is new to me and interesting enough - as interesting as a history of Europe and Israel in the last two centuries can be, when told from the perspective of bankers.
However, the writing is poor, the organization is sloppy and achronological, and the last chapter is basically the equivalent of a Vogue profile.
However, the writing is poor, the organization is sloppy and achronological, and the last chapter is basically the equivalent of a Vogue profile.
July 5, 2017
Suffering with complete ignorance of the Rothschilds and mild curiosity about them, I picked this one to learn. And I did.
The original patriarch, Mayer Amschel Rothschild, started the family business of banking in Frankfurt in the 1760's. His sons and grandsons proliferated the bank’s branches to include London, Paris, Naples, and Vienna, where they became the leading banking houses in each location but always operated as a family unit. In the process, they became the source of the excuse for racist fear mongering against the “international Jewish conspiracy.” Eventually, by current times the banks have dropped to two branches, London and Paris. The family is simply one of the most accomplished and wealthiest in the modern world.
Throughout, the family has produced brilliant business men, scientists - male and female, philanthropists, vintners - yes, they are Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Mouton Rothschild, collectors, breeders, and racers of horses, boats, and cars. Throughout their history family members took first honors at Cambridge and Oxford. The Balfour Declaration was addressed to a Rothschild and a Rothschild financed the settlement of Jews in Palestine, virtually founding the modern state of Israel. In World War II they served bravely in the military and as spies. Six of them earned both the Croix de Guerre and the Legion d’Honneur. Maybe most startling, they have created almost no scandal. In short, they have shown character and talent and many of them worked very hard.
Highly detailed and fairly even-handed, this is a careful exposition of a fascinating family.
The original patriarch, Mayer Amschel Rothschild, started the family business of banking in Frankfurt in the 1760's. His sons and grandsons proliferated the bank’s branches to include London, Paris, Naples, and Vienna, where they became the leading banking houses in each location but always operated as a family unit. In the process, they became the source of the excuse for racist fear mongering against the “international Jewish conspiracy.” Eventually, by current times the banks have dropped to two branches, London and Paris. The family is simply one of the most accomplished and wealthiest in the modern world.
Throughout, the family has produced brilliant business men, scientists - male and female, philanthropists, vintners - yes, they are Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Mouton Rothschild, collectors, breeders, and racers of horses, boats, and cars. Throughout their history family members took first honors at Cambridge and Oxford. The Balfour Declaration was addressed to a Rothschild and a Rothschild financed the settlement of Jews in Palestine, virtually founding the modern state of Israel. In World War II they served bravely in the military and as spies. Six of them earned both the Croix de Guerre and the Legion d’Honneur. Maybe most startling, they have created almost no scandal. In short, they have shown character and talent and many of them worked very hard.
Highly detailed and fairly even-handed, this is a careful exposition of a fascinating family.
November 2, 2020
Before I read this book, I didn’t know anything about the Rothschild family other than what everybody knows: they had a lot of money, they threw that famous ball that Elizabeth Taylor and Audrey Hepburn attended, and maybe something about wine. Turns out, it’s a fascinating story full of characters you couldn’t make up if you tried. I mean, there’s no other way to connect the Elector of Hesse-Cassel and a PhD-worthy study of fleas.
TL;DR: It’s a little too sprawling, there’s next to nothing about Rothschild women, and the first half is much more comprehensive and balanced than the second half. But it’s definitely worth reading because Cowles makes this a story about a family, one full of hard-working, interesting people who affected historical events – and epochs – in ways you never realized.
**
The story begins with Mayer Amschel Rothschild, a Jewish merchant in Frankfurt in the late 18th century. Thanks to his friendship with the financier for Elector William of Hesse-Cassel, Mayer began making transactions for the Elector. Not all of those transactions were made with the Elector’s knowledge, but they ended up making him a great deal of money, so who’s going to complain? In time-honored fashion, Mayer took his commission and used that money to make more money.
As the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars disrupted European finance, Mayer’s five sons continued the family tradition of making money when the outside world went to pieces. The true genius of the family, Nathan (Mayer’s son), had moved to London, so he was in an ideal place to pass funds, supplies, and information to his brothers on the continent. Other brothers lived and worked in Paris, Vienna, Naples, and Frankfurt. An Austrian emperor granted them the title of “Count,” and later (after much persuading), Queen Victoria created Nathan the first Lord Rothschild.
The brothers’ amazing success was due to three things: (1) their unswerving loyalty to each other, (2) their private network of couriers, and (3) the raw financial talent that popped up about once a generation.
The brothers’ kids were able to spend a tad less time on banking and more time buying property and building houses. The next few generations continued the assimilation into the aristocracies of their respective countries. Charles Rothschild was an amateur zoologist who collected and studied fleas, for example.
Their rise wasn’t without challenges. At one point, for example, Napoleon III backed the formation of a rival state bank, Crédit Mobilier, just to reduce France’s dependence on the Rothschilds. But, long story short, the guys running Crédit Mobilier effed up and the Rothschilds didn’t.
Things started to change after World War I, however. The younger Rothschilds seemed more interested in science and academia than finance. The last third of the book feels rushed as you meet the generations that took the family through World War II and beyond (the book was originally published in 1973). There’s a really weird final chapter that’s a glowing do-no-wrong write-up of Lord Rothschild.
Interesting Tidbits
* Male Rothschilds married female Rothschilds: cousins and nieces in the beginning. Later, when there were more to choose from, it might be a second cousin. This begs the question: why didn’t anyone in this family demonstrate any of the inbred characteristics we’ve come to recognize in, say, the Spanish Bourbons or Habsburgs?
* In 1833, when the British government abolished slavery, it borrowed £20,000,000 from the Rothschild bank to pay back slave owners.
* Nathaniel Rothschild left England for France in 1851. He bought what became the Mouton Rothschild vineyard. His cousin, James, bought the adjoining vineyard which became Lafite Rothschild.
* Eugénie de Montijo was good friends with James Rothschild and his wife.
* James Rothschild bought his spiffy Parisian townhouse from the Duchess of Dino in 1838.
*In 1853, Austria passed a law forbidding Jews to own property. Salomon Rothschild was exempt, but the law still pissed him off. So he and his brothers and nephews worked together to drive down the price of Austrian bonds on all other European markets. Austria repealed the law.
*The Italian branch of the family bank closed when the King and Queen of Naples lost their throne during the Italian unification.
*When a Viennese club refused membership to Anselm Rothschild (because he was Jewish), he bought a sewage disposal unit and installed it nearby. The club sent a membership offer, which Anselm sent back drenched with French perfume. I think I like him.
*When the Germans reached Paris as victors in the Franco-Prussian War, Bismarck recommended they stay at Alphonse Rothschild’s country house, Ferrières. King Wilhelm stayed in Alphonse’s rooms. Von Moltke stayed in Baroness Betty’s rooms.
*Hannah Rothschild became England’s richest heiress when she inherited her father, Mayer de Rothschild’s, £2,000,000 in cash. She married Lord Rosebery, later Prime Minister.
*Julie Rothschild (sister of Albert) was besties with Austria’s Empress Elisabeth. Julie and her husband lived on Lake Geneva and were the last ones to entertain Elisabeth on the night before her assassination.
Caveats
*This isn’t an unbiased history – if you’re looking for criticism of the family, you won’t get it. In fact, in the last quarter of the book, all you’ll read is how awesome the Rothschilds are – particularly Guy. It was a little disturbing.
*As with all sprawling family sagas, this one gets too big. You get much more detail about the first three to four generations, and then it thins out and you start realizing you can’t keep up with who’s who anymore. Albert? Alphonse? Adolph? Who are we talking about again? By the time someone got kidnapped in the 60s or 70s, I had no idea who it was.
*This is really a book about the Rothschild men. There is next to nothing about the women of the family. Cowles will tell you they were beautiful, good hostesses, and had good taste in decorating. But beyond that, they’re largely faceless, often nameless (“Mrs. Nathan”) entities.
Should You Read This Book?
Yes. I was looking for tidbits of royal trivia, and I found them. I really enjoyed getting to know the older generations and their effect on European history. If you get bored or distracted by the later generations, no worries...so did I. Skim as needed, and move on.
Review originally posted on https://girlinthetiara.com/2020-royal...
TL;DR: It’s a little too sprawling, there’s next to nothing about Rothschild women, and the first half is much more comprehensive and balanced than the second half. But it’s definitely worth reading because Cowles makes this a story about a family, one full of hard-working, interesting people who affected historical events – and epochs – in ways you never realized.
**
The story begins with Mayer Amschel Rothschild, a Jewish merchant in Frankfurt in the late 18th century. Thanks to his friendship with the financier for Elector William of Hesse-Cassel, Mayer began making transactions for the Elector. Not all of those transactions were made with the Elector’s knowledge, but they ended up making him a great deal of money, so who’s going to complain? In time-honored fashion, Mayer took his commission and used that money to make more money.
As the French Revolution and Napoleonic wars disrupted European finance, Mayer’s five sons continued the family tradition of making money when the outside world went to pieces. The true genius of the family, Nathan (Mayer’s son), had moved to London, so he was in an ideal place to pass funds, supplies, and information to his brothers on the continent. Other brothers lived and worked in Paris, Vienna, Naples, and Frankfurt. An Austrian emperor granted them the title of “Count,” and later (after much persuading), Queen Victoria created Nathan the first Lord Rothschild.
The brothers’ amazing success was due to three things: (1) their unswerving loyalty to each other, (2) their private network of couriers, and (3) the raw financial talent that popped up about once a generation.
The brothers’ kids were able to spend a tad less time on banking and more time buying property and building houses. The next few generations continued the assimilation into the aristocracies of their respective countries. Charles Rothschild was an amateur zoologist who collected and studied fleas, for example.
Their rise wasn’t without challenges. At one point, for example, Napoleon III backed the formation of a rival state bank, Crédit Mobilier, just to reduce France’s dependence on the Rothschilds. But, long story short, the guys running Crédit Mobilier effed up and the Rothschilds didn’t.
Things started to change after World War I, however. The younger Rothschilds seemed more interested in science and academia than finance. The last third of the book feels rushed as you meet the generations that took the family through World War II and beyond (the book was originally published in 1973). There’s a really weird final chapter that’s a glowing do-no-wrong write-up of Lord Rothschild.
Interesting Tidbits
* Male Rothschilds married female Rothschilds: cousins and nieces in the beginning. Later, when there were more to choose from, it might be a second cousin. This begs the question: why didn’t anyone in this family demonstrate any of the inbred characteristics we’ve come to recognize in, say, the Spanish Bourbons or Habsburgs?
* In 1833, when the British government abolished slavery, it borrowed £20,000,000 from the Rothschild bank to pay back slave owners.
* Nathaniel Rothschild left England for France in 1851. He bought what became the Mouton Rothschild vineyard. His cousin, James, bought the adjoining vineyard which became Lafite Rothschild.
* Eugénie de Montijo was good friends with James Rothschild and his wife.
* James Rothschild bought his spiffy Parisian townhouse from the Duchess of Dino in 1838.
*In 1853, Austria passed a law forbidding Jews to own property. Salomon Rothschild was exempt, but the law still pissed him off. So he and his brothers and nephews worked together to drive down the price of Austrian bonds on all other European markets. Austria repealed the law.
*The Italian branch of the family bank closed when the King and Queen of Naples lost their throne during the Italian unification.
*When a Viennese club refused membership to Anselm Rothschild (because he was Jewish), he bought a sewage disposal unit and installed it nearby. The club sent a membership offer, which Anselm sent back drenched with French perfume. I think I like him.
*When the Germans reached Paris as victors in the Franco-Prussian War, Bismarck recommended they stay at Alphonse Rothschild’s country house, Ferrières. King Wilhelm stayed in Alphonse’s rooms. Von Moltke stayed in Baroness Betty’s rooms.
*Hannah Rothschild became England’s richest heiress when she inherited her father, Mayer de Rothschild’s, £2,000,000 in cash. She married Lord Rosebery, later Prime Minister.
*Julie Rothschild (sister of Albert) was besties with Austria’s Empress Elisabeth. Julie and her husband lived on Lake Geneva and were the last ones to entertain Elisabeth on the night before her assassination.
Caveats
*This isn’t an unbiased history – if you’re looking for criticism of the family, you won’t get it. In fact, in the last quarter of the book, all you’ll read is how awesome the Rothschilds are – particularly Guy. It was a little disturbing.
*As with all sprawling family sagas, this one gets too big. You get much more detail about the first three to four generations, and then it thins out and you start realizing you can’t keep up with who’s who anymore. Albert? Alphonse? Adolph? Who are we talking about again? By the time someone got kidnapped in the 60s or 70s, I had no idea who it was.
*This is really a book about the Rothschild men. There is next to nothing about the women of the family. Cowles will tell you they were beautiful, good hostesses, and had good taste in decorating. But beyond that, they’re largely faceless, often nameless (“Mrs. Nathan”) entities.
Should You Read This Book?
Yes. I was looking for tidbits of royal trivia, and I found them. I really enjoyed getting to know the older generations and their effect on European history. If you get bored or distracted by the later generations, no worries...so did I. Skim as needed, and move on.
Review originally posted on https://girlinthetiara.com/2020-royal...
January 31, 2018
“There are no poor Rothschilds, only Rothschilds who are richer than other Rothschilds.”
When you’re in the right place at the right time, and you make your money by being indispensable to friends in high places without attempting to compete with them. This is a family of staggering achievement and immense influence. The story of the development of the Rothschild merchant bank from arising in the late 1700s is really quite amazing, and so many of the pivotal moments of the last two hundred years of European history were directly influenced by this close-knit family. They seemed to be everywhere in Europe, pulling the financial puppet strings behind major events and personalities. Given the multiple intermarriages of generations of Rothschilds, the inclusion of a family tree would have served this book well. It’s impossible to keep track of who’s who. I had to consult Wikipedia often. Of course I can find all the information on the internet but it was more entertaining to read this book.
The book started out a bit slowly, but it picked up and continued to accelerate. The book weakens considerably toward the end when the author’s writing takes on a breathless, gushing fangirl air like you’d find in an old copy of Teen Beat. Here’s an example of eye-rolling magazine prose typical of this book: “Cousin Evelyn, on the other hand, graces all the most amusing London parties. Tall, dark and handsome, he is much admired by the ladies; and, like his father, has a splendid stud farm and takes a keen interest in racing.” The last few pages gush effusively about what lovely hostesses the Rothschild wives are, and which of their children are clever, antique needle points are in their converted Victorian tea pavilions, that it becomes nearly unreadable. Maybe the author worked for the PR branch of the company. Anyway, despite the prissiness, still the point is that these were remarkable people, and likely still are today. The book is a bit out of date, since it was written forty-five years ago and most of the people who are described like rock stars in the present tense are now dead, or likely nearly so. It makes me wonder if the vitality, savvy and intelligence born of two centuries of ferocious inbreeding has yet taken its toll on the current generation?
A couple of small details that someone like me finds irritating: it’s very annoying to read animals referred to as “it” when their sex is known, because it makes the writing seem cold. Why not “he” and “she”? And there were also some weirdly distracting typos. Roman numerals didn’t come through very well in the e-book. You probably wouldn’t see them in a print copy.
When you’re in the right place at the right time, and you make your money by being indispensable to friends in high places without attempting to compete with them. This is a family of staggering achievement and immense influence. The story of the development of the Rothschild merchant bank from arising in the late 1700s is really quite amazing, and so many of the pivotal moments of the last two hundred years of European history were directly influenced by this close-knit family. They seemed to be everywhere in Europe, pulling the financial puppet strings behind major events and personalities. Given the multiple intermarriages of generations of Rothschilds, the inclusion of a family tree would have served this book well. It’s impossible to keep track of who’s who. I had to consult Wikipedia often. Of course I can find all the information on the internet but it was more entertaining to read this book.
The book started out a bit slowly, but it picked up and continued to accelerate. The book weakens considerably toward the end when the author’s writing takes on a breathless, gushing fangirl air like you’d find in an old copy of Teen Beat. Here’s an example of eye-rolling magazine prose typical of this book: “Cousin Evelyn, on the other hand, graces all the most amusing London parties. Tall, dark and handsome, he is much admired by the ladies; and, like his father, has a splendid stud farm and takes a keen interest in racing.” The last few pages gush effusively about what lovely hostesses the Rothschild wives are, and which of their children are clever, antique needle points are in their converted Victorian tea pavilions, that it becomes nearly unreadable. Maybe the author worked for the PR branch of the company. Anyway, despite the prissiness, still the point is that these were remarkable people, and likely still are today. The book is a bit out of date, since it was written forty-five years ago and most of the people who are described like rock stars in the present tense are now dead, or likely nearly so. It makes me wonder if the vitality, savvy and intelligence born of two centuries of ferocious inbreeding has yet taken its toll on the current generation?
A couple of small details that someone like me finds irritating: it’s very annoying to read animals referred to as “it” when their sex is known, because it makes the writing seem cold. Why not “he” and “she”? And there were also some weirdly distracting typos. Roman numerals didn’t come through very well in the e-book. You probably wouldn’t see them in a print copy.
August 18, 2014
The Rothschilds. A Family of Fortune: http://readwithstyle.wordpress.com/20...
Like every wealthy and old family the Rothschilds are surrounded by numerous rumors and unconfirmed stories. From the idea that they control the world through their vast wealth (still not proven) to the story that they knew the outcome of the Waterloo battle before the British Government (true) they are one of the most hated and admired families alive. Back in the 18th century an uneducated Jew of the name of Mayer Rothschild living in the poor ghetto of Frankfurt set to conquer the merchant and banking world. For me it was quite a revelation that Jews were as hated and deprived back then as they were during Nazi time, which understandably adds to the admiration for the old Mayer, who managed to rise above the persecutions and restrictions and form one of the most wealthiest and powerful families ever. And I am not just saying that because I work there.
His five sons were strategically sent to the five banking capitals of the world at that time: London, Paris, Vienna, Naples and Frankfurt. The rest is a history of the constant interaction between the Rothschilds and whatever was happening in Europe at the time. They were involved in the opposition against Napoleon, they provided financing for numerous armies fighting the French emperor, they supported the Jews in establishing their new-found state of Israel, they participated both physically and financially in both World Wars. Any important political or social development in Europe was ultimately connected to or influenced by the Rothschilds in some way. Numerous generations continued the legacy of old Mayer and his five sons, establishing the Rothschilds as the most prominent bankers of the 19th century. Due to various reasons three of the branches (Naples, Vienna and Frankfurt) ultimately closed, but the supremacy of the French and British Rothschilds is evident up to this date.
Read more: http://readwithstyle.wordpress.com/20...
Like every wealthy and old family the Rothschilds are surrounded by numerous rumors and unconfirmed stories. From the idea that they control the world through their vast wealth (still not proven) to the story that they knew the outcome of the Waterloo battle before the British Government (true) they are one of the most hated and admired families alive. Back in the 18th century an uneducated Jew of the name of Mayer Rothschild living in the poor ghetto of Frankfurt set to conquer the merchant and banking world. For me it was quite a revelation that Jews were as hated and deprived back then as they were during Nazi time, which understandably adds to the admiration for the old Mayer, who managed to rise above the persecutions and restrictions and form one of the most wealthiest and powerful families ever. And I am not just saying that because I work there.
His five sons were strategically sent to the five banking capitals of the world at that time: London, Paris, Vienna, Naples and Frankfurt. The rest is a history of the constant interaction between the Rothschilds and whatever was happening in Europe at the time. They were involved in the opposition against Napoleon, they provided financing for numerous armies fighting the French emperor, they supported the Jews in establishing their new-found state of Israel, they participated both physically and financially in both World Wars. Any important political or social development in Europe was ultimately connected to or influenced by the Rothschilds in some way. Numerous generations continued the legacy of old Mayer and his five sons, establishing the Rothschilds as the most prominent bankers of the 19th century. Due to various reasons three of the branches (Naples, Vienna and Frankfurt) ultimately closed, but the supremacy of the French and British Rothschilds is evident up to this date.
Read more: http://readwithstyle.wordpress.com/20...
October 14, 2022
More like Rothschilds-sponsored propaganda. My only association of the Rothschilds name was candy and conspiracy theory. I knew nothing factual. I grabbed this book on a whim and the early chapters were interesting and appeared to be fact-based. In an almost Forest Gump style, the book portrayed the Rothschilds family role in major events over decades and centuries. While the portrayal of early Rothschild family members was positive, it seemed to be even-handed. The 20th-century chapters became increasing sycophantic to the point of being sickening. I struggled to make it through the last few chapters. It was so ridiculously slanted that it called earlier chapters into question. The author's lack of objectivity is unfortunate because the Rothschild history is interesting and they certainly played a pivotal role in major events of the last few centuries.
May 15, 2017
I had started reading The House of Morgans and decided to finish this one instead. I thought the rise of the Rothchilds will be more exciting to read and also it happened at an earlier time than the Morgans.
The first half of the book was interesting but the second half was quite a drag. The author seemed to be a bit biased towards the family.
The first half of the book was interesting but the second half was quite a drag. The author seemed to be a bit biased towards the family.
November 22, 2017
Being published 44 years ago, it'a wildly out of date. Interesting though to find out how the European banking dynasty started and how they spread over Europe. A bit dry in places and a family tree would have helped as there were so many of them.
December 9, 2017
The amount of research that went into this book is truly staggering.
Not everyone will enjoy The Rothschilds but for those of us with an interest in finance and history, it is a gem. It is not an easy read largely because of the Rothschilds rules about not marrying outside of the family. One reviewer commented that it would have been easier to read had there been a family tree. There might be some truth in that but with cousins repeatedly marrying cousins you would have needed a skilled drafts-person to come up with something remotely understandable.
What a remarkable family. To come from a Hamburg ghetto and end up being one of the most powerful families in the world. The accumulation of wealth in the early 1800s would put even Warren Buffet to shame. To think that Nathaniel could turn twenty thousand pounds into fifty million pounds in London is truly staggering.
Virginia Cowles did a fantastc job with The Rothschilds and I dread to think how many years the research and writing took. A brilliant, well written masterpiece.
Not everyone will enjoy The Rothschilds but for those of us with an interest in finance and history, it is a gem. It is not an easy read largely because of the Rothschilds rules about not marrying outside of the family. One reviewer commented that it would have been easier to read had there been a family tree. There might be some truth in that but with cousins repeatedly marrying cousins you would have needed a skilled drafts-person to come up with something remotely understandable.
What a remarkable family. To come from a Hamburg ghetto and end up being one of the most powerful families in the world. The accumulation of wealth in the early 1800s would put even Warren Buffet to shame. To think that Nathaniel could turn twenty thousand pounds into fifty million pounds in London is truly staggering.
Virginia Cowles did a fantastc job with The Rothschilds and I dread to think how many years the research and writing took. A brilliant, well written masterpiece.
November 15, 2015
A very pedestrian and really quite uninspired biography of the Rothschilds. The facts are all there, and the research has obviously been painstaking and thorough, but none of the family come alive and in fact I found it hard to really distinguish one from another. The author seems to think they are all equally praiseworthy. And although I am well aware that the Rothschilds are famous for their financial skills, reading about each and every deal they have ever made became increasingly tedious. I learnt a lot – but didn’t particularly enjoy the learning….
July 25, 2016
Solid and Without the Conspiracies
The writing here is solid and factual. Many of the stories of this famous banking family focus on the sensational and conspiratorial. By simply telling the history, we get a picture of brilliant people working hard to better the family and the rewards it brought. The writer's style contains very few sensational elements, so it doesn't necessarily get the blood pumping. However, it's consistently interesting enough to keep the reader in the tale.
The writing here is solid and factual. Many of the stories of this famous banking family focus on the sensational and conspiratorial. By simply telling the history, we get a picture of brilliant people working hard to better the family and the rewards it brought. The writer's style contains very few sensational elements, so it doesn't necessarily get the blood pumping. However, it's consistently interesting enough to keep the reader in the tale.
April 2, 2011
I read this 10 years ago before I knew.....
I enjoyed it at the time, lol.
I enjoyed it at the time, lol.
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December 4, 2019This is a hard read. I think the publisher should pare this work into a collection of several volumes. The first could cover the origins of the Rothschild family, while each subsequent volume could cover their experiences during significant, dramatic, or traumatic (for the family) world-historical events or epochs (Napoleonic Wars, Victorian Era, World Wars and Holocaust, and so forth). This would also afford the opportunity for contemporary editors and researchers to update where necessary. As it is, this behemoth is replete with facts but seems overly laudatory, or, even worse, an editorially neutral repository of facts and biographical vignettes. I appreciate the idiosyncrasies of the rise and decline and rebirth of different branches of the Rothschild family, but there is no analysis to help us understand what allows individual members of the family to achieve as their circumstances and surroundings change. All we have to go on is the genetic determinism of being born into the family, and I do not consider this position tenable today (or, ever). 4 stars for scope and depth of research, 1 for editing, 1 for analysis, and 1 for ability to respond to anything of interest in the contemporary era.
April 25, 2023
⭐⭐
2nd book in The Dynasties series, while it was originally written in the 1970s, the thing about non fiction is that history doesn't generally change too much.
I was more excited about this one since I didn't know a whole ton about the family other than they were famous for being in finance and having branches all over Europe. In addition to being basically the "Kings" of European finance for a long time.
The first half of this book is the major reason for the lower rating. It wasn't so much about the family but a European history lesson and the Rothchilds took a secondary role. And when I'm reading something about a specific person or family, I prefer them to be the star, so to speak.
2nd book in The Dynasties series, while it was originally written in the 1970s, the thing about non fiction is that history doesn't generally change too much.
I was more excited about this one since I didn't know a whole ton about the family other than they were famous for being in finance and having branches all over Europe. In addition to being basically the "Kings" of European finance for a long time.
The first half of this book is the major reason for the lower rating. It wasn't so much about the family but a European history lesson and the Rothchilds took a secondary role. And when I'm reading something about a specific person or family, I prefer them to be the star, so to speak.
March 4, 2018
Hmmmm. 3 or 4 stars. Although choppy and written rather haphazardly it is definitely informative if you know nothing about the Rothschilds. Sweeping a large time frame it is a quick read that gives a birds eye view of the family and their rise in European history. It will lay to rest some of the conspiracies that so many choose to believe and yet surprise you with others that you may not of known.
Being Jewish in this time frame was restrictive and I found it astounding how, when banding together, the family reached the heights they did.
All in all not a bad read, just not a great one.
Being Jewish in this time frame was restrictive and I found it astounding how, when banding together, the family reached the heights they did.
All in all not a bad read, just not a great one.
January 3, 2021
A book that I was sorry to see end.
Fascinating family history, told in a most captivating manner. It is very detailed, but I was still wanting more. What a joy it is to read a book about one family without all the lurid details of family feuds, infighting, incest and all the worse in people that most authors seem to relish above all else.
My only disappointment was the lack of pictures and maps. I would love to see all these wonderful people, their homes and their families.
Fascinating family history, told in a most captivating manner. It is very detailed, but I was still wanting more. What a joy it is to read a book about one family without all the lurid details of family feuds, infighting, incest and all the worse in people that most authors seem to relish above all else.
My only disappointment was the lack of pictures and maps. I would love to see all these wonderful people, their homes and their families.
December 4, 2021
Pretty good
A very interesting telling of the saga of the Rothschild family through1973. While interesting, there were many typos and glaring errors such as speaking of Queen Victoria receiving news of an event around1830 when she didn't become Queen until1837. Another reference has someone taking an office in1863 and again in1965! Because of these errors, I don't trust all her info and have deducted stars because of this.
A very interesting telling of the saga of the Rothschild family through1973. While interesting, there were many typos and glaring errors such as speaking of Queen Victoria receiving news of an event around1830 when she didn't become Queen until1837. Another reference has someone taking an office in1863 and again in1965! Because of these errors, I don't trust all her info and have deducted stars because of this.
July 17, 2017
Cannot remember if I read this one before or a different book about the Rothschilds. Gossipy and a little bit magazine-portrait-y - all the R men married beautiful women who were wonderful hostesses - not much said about the R women, who were forbidden to work in the banks - but interesting, both about the family and the history of the times and how they made money going and coming.
May 31, 2018
An interesting book covering the Rothchild dynasty from humble beginnings to extreme wealth and influence in Europe. The writing style can be a bit dry and at times it is difficult to keep track of the family tree and which branch is being discussed. However, you will find the trajectory of this family fascinating.
May 6, 2023
Delightful History of the Rothschilds
Descriptions of all the Rothschilds had a humble beginning in the ghetto in Frankfort Germany. It travels from each member n 130 years. Gracious hosts and benefactors giving millions of dollars to multiple charities. The gifts gave Israel multitudes of money to help the Holy Land grow and prosper.
Descriptions of all the Rothschilds had a humble beginning in the ghetto in Frankfort Germany. It travels from each member n 130 years. Gracious hosts and benefactors giving millions of dollars to multiple charities. The gifts gave Israel multitudes of money to help the Holy Land grow and prosper.
May 22, 2017
I enjoyed this book mainly because the Rothschilds have long interested me with their family and their wealth. What an historic book and a hell of a family tree. I'm glad I read it and now know more than I ever did before.
June 10, 2017
An interesting look at a family with global recognition.
An interesting study of the origins of the Rothschild financial business and the banking empire created in the 19th centrist that wanders a bit as it progresses into anecdotes about the family over the later generations.
An interesting study of the origins of the Rothschild financial business and the banking empire created in the 19th centrist that wanders a bit as it progresses into anecdotes about the family over the later generations.
January 24, 2018
A good read
Interested but slow read about a family that I assumed was controlling the financial structure of many western countries. Not exactly true in modern times but their influence greatly affected history in many parts of the western world. Worth your time if interested.
Interested but slow read about a family that I assumed was controlling the financial structure of many western countries. Not exactly true in modern times but their influence greatly affected history in many parts of the western world. Worth your time if interested.
August 3, 2018
Though rather aged now (nearly 50 years old), and very obviously written by an admirer of the family, this is an engaging read full of interesting anecdotes and stories - especially in the period from the Napoleonic Wars to the start of WW2.
August 16, 2018
Fascinating
A well researched history of the Rothschild family. It is truly an amazing family being able to survive throughout the years of anti-semitism and remain true to their faith.
A well researched history of the Rothschild family. It is truly an amazing family being able to survive throughout the years of anti-semitism and remain true to their faith.
Currently reading
January 23, 2022This book is OK. The first few pages are interesting but it slows down after that. The family rose to power amidst dramatic history in multiple countries, but seems more like it is written as a doctoral thesis with the requisite dry and clunky writing.
December 17, 2022
detailed riveting history
Fascinating extremely detailed historical over view of one of the most influential, famous and according to the author an extremely generous family both monetary and hands on. I read the book from cover to cover and learned so much about European history and the impact and influence the Rothschild family had in so many different ways!
Fascinating extremely detailed historical over view of one of the most influential, famous and according to the author an extremely generous family both monetary and hands on. I read the book from cover to cover and learned so much about European history and the impact and influence the Rothschild family had in so many different ways!
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October 16, 2023The Rothschilds
I really enjoyed this book. A great chronological history of this family. They may be wealthy but they also work very hard, play hard, and are huge benefactors to countless causes and charities. A very good read.
I really enjoyed this book. A great chronological history of this family. They may be wealthy but they also work very hard, play hard, and are huge benefactors to countless causes and charities. A very good read.
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