The Plungers & the Peacocks: 170 Years on Wall Street (Legends of Commerce)

The Plungers and the Peacocks is an entertaining portrait of the personalities and corporate battles of Wall Street, the most famous financial district in the world. Using interviews with "old-timers" who lived through the events of the Street from the 1920s to the 40s and memoirs, and letters, the author has produced a sweeping narrative of "the games people played" in establishing America's financial center. Dana L. Thomas recounts a roller-coaster ride of excitement and intrigue, from the slave auctions of Captain Kidd to the battle by Robert Young to gain control of the New York Central Railroad.