The Rothschilds: A Family Portrait

In this engaging history of the Rothschild family, Morton tracks the rise of the family from humble beginnings in 18th century Hesse to the financially successful 19th and 20th century global spanning fiscal empire. The book itself is relatively short, at only 300 pages, but the author's excellent writing style draws you a full picture of how one family's rise paralleled the social, economic and political events of the past two hundred years.We begin with one man who had five sons. Five sons who through skill and connections managed to set up financial empires in London, Paris, Frankfurt, Vienna, and Naples. And then through schrewd marriages that would make almost any Habsburg envious, the family continued to expand their wealth and political power during the long nineteenth century. Along the way some of those empires would wither away due to political events and a lack of sons. The majority of the book thus focuses on the remaining branches of the Rothschild Empire that have proved the most successful - the British and the French Rothschilds.Just be aware - this is a good introduction to the family. But it is not the most thorough - again it is only 300 pages long. If you like Ron Chernow's books on the Warburgs and the Morgans, you will enjoy this book too.

a broad overview of one of the worlds most influential families. Written by a huge fan and no negative reporting but the bones are there. They have done a lot of good. OF course they have had to deal with idiotic anti semites for generations.

I have to admit that I found it slow gowing in the beginning but it picked up speed later on. Nothing really " juicy" was revealed, but I learned something about this very publicity-shy family. I would have liked to know more about the current branches of the Family. I thought it was well written and witty at the appropriate spots.

Reads as if it was written by and for the Rothchild family. Published some time ago, we don't have the latest on the family and what the advent of the computer age has done to the businesses. Fine history of the family's beginnings.

Very well written and clear history and explanation of the influence of the Rothschild dynasty.

Lot's to learn here even many years after it was published.. Description of how the Rothschilds impacted on the modern State of Israel is especially illuminating. Would love to see it brought up to date.

Product as expected. Buy with confidence.

This book is fantastic. I enjoyed every single chapter of it and wished they had even more info related to their pieces of art.

This 1961 publication traces the Rothschilds’ rise to financial pre-eminence - within two generations - from the Frankfurt ghetto of the 18th century into the mid-20th century.Be prepared for a strangely burlesque narrative style. I found this grating – presumably it was designed to be ‘readable’ and perhaps to mirror the quality of chutzpah which the author ascribes quintessentially to the family. Frustrating, too, is the superficial portrayal, with a touch of comic opera metaphor, of some sensitive and critical transactions along the way. These tantalise without revealing the true subtlety behind some of the brothers’ outstanding successes.The commercial acumen and ambition of the early scions is thoroughly established but as a ‘family portrait’ it’s disappointing. The relentless focus on extravagant opulence is wearing and belies the more interesting reality of these men: their aesthetic and scientific pursuits, collecting interests, religious conviction, political and philanthropic endeavours. These are mentioned in passing only to be subjugated to yet more accounts of excessive luxury and imperious eccentricity.At best the book is a helpful overview, pointing the reader to those incidents and associations where they might further explore the talent and influence of the Rothschilds in European and world affairs.

a great piecde of what i hope is fiction !!!!!!!

If you watch Nicholas Witchell BBC Royal correspondent and wish that if only he could be even more sycophantic, and write a book about a family of Jewish financiers, then you will be in heaven.I have never met any of the Rothschild’s, but I’ve been impressed with their sheer intellect and achievement. I read a paperback on the family years ago and even have a copy of Meditations of a Broomstick by Lord Victor Rothschild. The story of the family is truly remarkable, a family came from the ghetto to influence history across two centuries.However the endless fawning obsequiousness of the author is utterly exhausting. This is historical biography as gushing celebrity fan mag. The sources mostly seem to be secondary, and often details are uncritically dropped in as so much ostentatious decoration, such as the family accumulating yet more paintings by Giorgione, when there are only thought to be six in existence.I started to read the far tarter Trollope book The Way We Live Now, to leaven the overly cloying tones of this one.

Incredible family but about half way it loses it a bit.

Interesting history of the period