Overview

John Law was a gamester - a banker, economist, gambler and duelist. Born and bred in Scotland, he had to flee London in 1697 after killing a love rival and for the next 16 years made his living through the gaming tables and financial speculations on the continent. After the death of Louis the 14th in 1715, Law established a bank in Paris and received permission to issue paper currency. This was initially a great success and he soon founded the Mississippi Trading company whose shares rose precipitously before collapsing in one of the greatest financial bubbles in history. Raphael Sabatini's novel, 'The Gamester', captures the wild ride of John Law's life from relatively modest beginnings, to his adventures on the continent and finally to his audacious financial schemes that brought France to its knees economically.

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9781853981999

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Rafael Sabatini was born on April 29, 1875 in Jesi, Italy, the son of two opera singers. His mother, Anna Trafford, was English and an accomplished pianist as well as a singer. His father, Vincenzo, was Italian. Rafael had a peripatetic childhood and by the age of 17 was fluent in six languages. Initially, he entered commerce but soon began writing as a career and eventually produced a number of outstanding works including 'Captain Blood', 'Scaramouche' and 'The Sea Hawk'. Rafael Sabatini died in 1950.

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