Overview

Britain's rise to global dominance from the 16th century onwards owed as much to the vision and creative energies of traders, merchants, industrialists and bankers as it did to wars of conquest fought by empire-building military men. Dragons tells the story of British business endeavour through the lives of ten titans of commerce. Beginning with the Tudor merchants who transformed England's economy via trade with the New World, Liam Byrne traces a golden line of British entrepreneurial genius through men such as Thomas Pitt, saviour of the East India Company; financier Nathan Rothschild, creator of the modern bond market; 'ethical capitalist' George Cadbury; and William Lever, brand-builder, philanthropist, and creator of Britain's first great multinational. At the start of the 21st century Britain remains a major economic power. Dragons is both a rousing celebration of British business acumen and a fascinatingly informative narrative of a neglected but essential strand of our island's story.

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9781781857496

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Reviews

'Written with infectious enthusiasm, Dragons brings to new perspectives on Britain's entrepreneurs. Economic history needs such a fresh and original approach' -- Sir Roderick Floud, co-editor, Cambridge Economic History 'Liam Byrne's compelling history recounts Britain's past as a pointer to what must be Britain's future' -- Phil Collins, The Times '[A] whistle-stop account of some of Britain's greatest entrepreneurs and deal-makers ... Leaves you longing to know more' * The Times * 'A great history of Britain's buccaneers, wealth creators and adventurers ... Brilliantly connects past to present' -- Tristram Hunt

'Written with infectious enthusiasm, Dragons brings to new perspectives on Britain's entrepreneurs. Economic history needs such a fresh and original approach' Sir Roderick Floud, co-editor, Cambridge Economic History. 'Liam Byrne's compelling history recounts Britain's past as a pointer to what must be Britain's future' Phil Collins, The Times. '[A] whistle-stop account of some of Britain's greatest entrepreneurs and deal-makers ... Leaves you longing to know more' The Times. 'A great history of Britain's buccaneers, wealth creators and adventurers ... Brilliantly connects past to present' Tristram Hunt.

PRAISE FOR TURNING TO FACE THE EAST: 'What a wake-up call!' Lord Digby Jones. '[A] wide-ranging reflection on one of the most crucial economic issues facing Britain today' Rana Mitter, Oxford University.

Author Information

Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP is a former Cabinet minister, writer and reformer. A technology entrepreneur before entering politics, he was a Fulbright Scholar at the Harvard Business School.

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