The Wrong Kind of Money

By Stephen Birmingham

Book Overview

The Wrong Kind of Money brings to vivid life Jules Liebling, the patriarch - shrewd, cynical, coming from the shtetls of Russia to scale the ladder of success in the New World. His wife, Hannah Sachs - daughter of a proud German-Jewish clan, who proves to be even more iron-willed than he in seizing and holding power. Her younger sister, with whom Hannah strikes a bargain that puts Jules to shame. Cyril, the son scorned by his father as a playboy. Noah, the good son, who is forced to fight to become his own man. Ruth, a daughter on the brink of personal ruin, going from lover to lover and indulgence to indulgence. Noah's non-Jewish wife, who learns to manipulate Wasp society to gain the Lieblings entry into their world. And the young granddaughter who comes home with a beautiful, erotically enticing friend and plunges the family into a crisis they may not survive. Along with his intimately authentic depiction of New York's upper-class ambience, Stephen Birmingham explores the dynamics of an extraordinary family, revealing their remarkable successes and the shameful secrets hidden in shadows of the past.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0525943315
• ISBN13: 9780525943310
• Release Date: August 1997
• Publisher: Dutton Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 1.60 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.3" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Life at the top

The Liebling family of New York is one of the wealthiest in the city but still isn't accepted by the socially elite because of the source of their money-liquor! Since the death of the family's founder, Jules Liebling who made his fortune selling legal Canadian liquor to American mobsters during prohibition, the family business has been closely guarded by his widow Hannah. Their elder son Cyril has been a great disappointment to his mother, so the second son, Noah has been groomed to take over from her when she finally decides to stand down.I found this book to be a great read involving all the family members and giving a close insight to the lives of the rich and famous.

The characters become so real you care what happens to them

In the closed world of NYC society, snobbery and bigotry, Stephen Birmingham has written that all that glitters is not gold. He has provided an insightfull look at the real fact that all people are participants in the comedy and tragedy that is life. With characters that become real people and situations that do not exceed the real world, this book is honestly written and truly enjoyable. Birmingham tosses in morality and immorality with equal penache and, just for spice, lessons in the true world of business that seem to be just thoughts of passing. This is a book to read for sheer pleasure; but beware, you may come to care about Hannah and her happy/unhappy band of misfits before it's all over.