Mellon: An American Life
Author: David Cannadin
A landmark work from one of the preeminent historians of our time: the first published biography of Andrew W. Mellon, the American colossus who bestrode the worlds of industry, government, and philanthropy, leaving his transformative stamp on each.
Following a boyhood in nineteenth-century Pittsburgh, Andrew Mellon overcame painful shyness to become one of America’s greatest financiers. Across an unusually diverse range of enterprises, he would build a legendary personal fortune, tracking America’s course to global economic supremacy. Personal happiness, however, eluded him. He had been bred to do one thing, and that he did with brilliant and innovative entrepreneurship.
Mellon’s wealth and name allowed him to dominate Pennsylvania politics, and under presidents Harding, Coolidge, and finally Hoover, he made the federal government run like a business. But this man of straightforward conservative politics was no politician. He would be hailed as the architect of the Roaring Twenties, but, staying too long, would be blamed for the Great Depression, eventually to find himself a broken idol.
The issues Andrew W. Mellon confronted–concerning government, business, influence, the individual and the public good–remain at the center of our national discourse to this day. Indeed, the positions he steadfastly held reemerged relatively intact with the Reagan revolution, having lain dormant since the New Deal. David Cannadine’s magisterial biography brings to life a towering, controversial figure, casting new light on our history and the evolution of our public values.
Library Journal
Cannadine (British history, Inst. of Historical Research, Univ. of London; The Decline and Fall of the British Aristocracy) presents the first comprehensive biography of Andrew W. Mellon (1855-1937), a long-awaited, extensively researched project that serves its subject well. Cannadine introduces us to the shy, reticent Mellon, born into a Pittsburgh family of achievers, before moving on to his early work in lumber and banking, his ill-fated marriage to Nora McMullen, and his constant indulgence of his children, Paul and Ailsa. In 1914, he was the richest man in the United States. In public life, he served as the longest and most controversial secretary of the Treasury, retaining that office during the politically conservative years of Harding, Coolidge, and Hoover. He reduced the public debt from $26 billion in 1921 to $16 billion by 1930. Late in life, he gave $10,000,000 and 21 masterpieces purchased from the Hermitage in Leningrad (St. Petersburg), to establish the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. As Cannadine shows us, when Mellon's life ended during the New Deal, he stood for fiscal policies that were no longer supported. This is a valuable portrait of a banker, statesman, philanthropist, and art collector whose initiatives still resonate today. Highly recommended for all libraries, especially public libraries with a well-established history or business collection. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/06.] Mary C. Allen, Everett Lib., WA Copyright 2006 Reed Business Information.
Kirkus Reviews
Lavish, multifaceted portrait of the early-20th-century American business titan, emphasizing the man rather than the money. British historian Cannadine (In Churchill's Shadow, 2003, etc.) shows power, politics, art and money all working together in the life of Andrew Mellon (1855-1937). Born and bred into the world of finance and industry, Mellon was shy and obsessed with self-sufficiency. A lengthy opening section here on Mellon's father, Thomas, explains his impact on his son's character. At 19, Mellon began work at the family bank under his father's watchful eye. Their formula for success-invest to increase value; leave get-rich-quick schemes to fools-was hardly revolutionary, but Cannadine's exposition of the early years lays the groundwork for a fuller picture of Mellon. Somewhat repetitive stories of mergers and acquisitions (both financial and artistic) frame the story of Mellon's personal struggles. Less than adept in relationships outside the office, at 43 he fell for and married an English girl of 19. The marriage ended in divorce 14 years later, the first of two major scandals the otherwise private Mellon endured. (The second involved accusations of tax fraud in the mid-1930s by a hostile New Deal government.) Though the financier preferred to exercise his power out of the spotlight, circumstances often moved him to the center of attention. When asked to become Secretary of the Treasury in 1921, Mellon would have liked to turn down the offer in order to concentrate on building closer ties with his estranged daughter, but he felt obligated to help rebuild a country recovering from war. Once in Washington, he saw an opportunity to leave a lasting legacy in the form of theNational Gallery of Art. Although he didn't live to see its completion, his dream was ultimately fulfilled. Cannadine's insightful account reveals Mellon as a man who took personal risks that seemingly defied his upbringing. Grand successes and epic failures, engrossingly recounted.
Books about: Impero: L'aumento ed il crollo dell'ordine mondiale britannico
Killed Cartoons: Casualties from the War on Free Expression
Author: David Wallis
One hundred political cartoons you wanted to see, but weren't allowed to: all were banned for being too hot to handle.
Think you live in a society with a free press? These celebrated cartoonists and illustrators found out otherwise. Whether blasting Bush for his "Bring 'em on!" speech, spanking pedophile priests, questioning capital punishment, debating the disputed 2000 election, or just mocking baseball mascots, they learned that newspapers and magazines increasingly play it safe by suppressing satire.
With censored cartoons, many unpublished, by the likes of Garry Trudeau, Doug Marlette, Paul Conrad, Mike Luckovich, Matt Davies, and Ted Rall (all Pulitzer Prize winners or finalists), as well as unearthed editorial illustrations by Norman Rockwell, Edward Sorel, Anita Kunz, Marshall Arisman, and Steve Brodner, you will find yourself surprised and often shocked by the images themselves—and outraged by the fact that a fearful editor kept you from seeing them. Needed now more than ever because of a neutered press that's more lapdog than watchdog, Killed Cartoons will make you laugh, make you angry, and make you think. 100 illustrations.
Rachel Bridgewater - Library Journal
In his latest collection, Wallis, who also edited Killed: Great Journalism Too Hot To Print, takes on censored editorial cartoons. He displays 95 cartoons rejected by editors fearful of offending their readership, advertisers, corporate owners, or political leaders. A brief essay describing the circumstances surrounding the rejection prefaces each cartoon. Though each part may be read alone, a sequential reading reveals Wallis's thoughtful editorial choices as each entry builds subtly on the last. The collection is enriched by the comments of the cartoonists themselves, which Wallis includes whenever possible. Unleavened by these comments, Wallis's approach might seem heavy-handed. The inclusion of these diverse voices increases the value and readability of the work. This collection is particularly powerful in light of the 2006 riots surrounding the Danish Muhammad cartoons, a topic dealt with here at some length and with considerable nuance. This will be a popular and relevant title in collections with a current affairs focus, especially larger public libraries.
Table of Contents:
Introduction 9Editor's Note 23
Indecent Exposure: From Sex to Death 25
Not a Prayer: Irreligious Imagery 77
Profiles in No Courage: Editors Playing Politics 115
Fall from Race: Nothing Is Black and White 205
Protection Racket: Corporate Power at Work 233
About the Editor 261
About the Contributors 263
Acknowledgments 277
Credits 279
No comments:
Post a Comment