Sampson Rock of Wall Street

Edwin Lefèvre (1871-1943) was an American journalist, writer, and statesman most noted for his writings on Wall Street business. As an independently wealthy investor, living in Hartsdale, New York, Lefèvre pursued a literary career, publishing short stories and novels drawn from the world of investing. His first full-length novel and third literary work was Sampson Rock of Wall Street.

This entertaining but poignant novel captures the essence of Wall Street and high-stakes finance. Published the same year as the Panic of 1907, Lefèvre's tale of a high-powered mogul's questionable actions resonated with the financial community and gained instant acclaim.

Sampson Rock of Wall Street tells the story of stock market manipulations made by a railroad tycoon as he wheels and deals his way into wealth. His scheme to increase his already vast wealth of holdings by depressing the stock in one of his properties becomes known to his son who then sets out to seize control of the railroad himself. A true classic, this timeless tale of stock market games and the machinations of a master market manipulator is as relevant today as it was a century ago.

The book's Introduction, written by bestselling author William Bernstein, contributes many insights and context including the following: “Financial loss has many parents: inadequate quantitative ability, overconfidence, underestimation of risk tolerance, ignorance about the knowledge and competence of those on the other side of your trades, and the granddaddy of them all, unawareness of financial history. Sampson Rock will teach you about all of them.”