"Our Crowd"

The Great Jewish Families of New York

De: Stephen Birmingham

Narrado por: Mel Foster

The New York Times bestselling history of the rise of the most powerful and privileged Jewish families in America

They immigrated to America from Germany in the nineteenth century with names like Loeb, Sachs, Seligman, Lehman, Guggenheim, and Goldman. From tenements on the Lower East Side to Park Avenue mansions, this handful of Jewish families turned small businesses into imposing enterprises and amassed spectacular fortunes. But despite possessing breathtaking wealth that rivaled the Astors and Rockefellers, they were barred by the gentile establishment from the lofty realm of "the 400," a register of New York's most elite, because of their religion and humble backgrounds. In response, they created their own elite "100," a privileged society as opulent and exclusive as the one that had refused them entry.

"Our Crowd" is the fascinating story of this rarefied society. Based on letters, documents, diary entries, and intimate personal remembrances of family lore by members of these most illustrious clans, it is an engrossing portrait of upper-class Jewish life over two centuries; a riveting story of the bankers, brokers, financiers, philanthropists, and business tycoons who started with nothing and turned their family names into American institutions.

©1967 Stephen Birmingham (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. The Macmillan Company for the letters of Otto Kahn which appeared in "The Many Lives of Otto Kahn" by Mary Jane Mate, © 1963 by Margaret D. Ryan.

Excellent

I am Jewish so this history is particularly interesting to me. If turn of the century history, finance, and social history is of interest to the reader this book will not disappoint.

Landmark book that can be overwhelming at times

I've been wanting to read this for yrs & finally did. Though interesting & informative, it's as much a history of Wall Street as it is of the families. Understanding the financial manipulation & strategies that built the families' fortunes is challenging. As the generations turn up, the intanglement of relationships is confusing. If there's a family tree diagram in the printed book that might minimize confusion? Overall it's a good read if you're interested in American Jewish & NYC history.

Fascinating

What a fascinating piece of history. Brilliantly narrated by Mel Foster. I recommend this to everybody who is interested in history.

Great listen

Some parts a little dry but fascinating look at Jewish history in NY from the vantage point of the mid 1960s.

Brilliant!

Really colors in the events leading up to the 1940’s New York. Well worth the listen!