Merchant Princes: An Intimate History of Jewish Families Who Built Great Department Stores

By Leon A. Harris

Book Overview

Focusing on one city and family per chapter, Harris reveals the fascinating stories of America's great Jewish storekeeping families--the Rosenwalds of Chicago, Riches of Atlanta, Marcuses of Dallas,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060117974
• ISBN13: 9780060117979
• Release Date: January 1982
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Length: 411 Pages
• Weight: 1.86 lbs.

Customer Reviews

the world's foremost jewish history does it again

Ken libo has shown an excellent ability to convey jewish history time and time again.. This book is no exception.. It's very readable, and will not let you down. If you want to concieve the struggles and successes of jews and others in the early twentieth century; buy this book.

Great book! For history buffs who like the personal side.

This is a great book. It's chock full of history told in an easy-to-read style. Leon Harris reveals the struggles and successes of 12 of the earliest Jewish retailers of America including Levi Strauss, Sears, Roebuck, Neiman, Marcus etc. It appeals to readers on many levels. First it is an historic account of the people whose names have become so familiar as store-names that we have forgotten there were ever people with those names. "Merchant Princes" includes many personal anecdotes about the founders of the stores and their families, retailing practices of yester-year and what these merchants did with their incredible wealth. Told by a Jew, about Jews, it reveals in surprisingly candid ways the ostracism of Jews in this country addressing how this all began. It's a book you can put down and pick up at any point without losing the flow. Jews will love it. Gentiles will be impressed. I was!