A previous commissioned biography was written by Burton J. Hendrick, a well known historian and biographer of Andrew Carnegie. But, after the book was written, it was decided that it would not be published. Over 30 years later, Cannadine was commissioned to write the book by Andrew Mellon's son, Paul Mellon (1907–1999). He had access to the family's private archives and personal interviews.
The book focuses on four areas of Mellon's life: business, politics, art collector, and philanthropist.[2][3] He stresses that Mellon was not a self-made financier, thereby not embodying a rags-to-riches story, but rather a riches-to-more-riches story.[4] In 1902, he was worth about $20 million, while in 1921, $135 million; and in 1930, about $170 million.
Cannadine also chronicles Mellon's economic and political ideology. He was an ardent supporter of laissez-faire capitalism. But, as the author notes, he also believed in protectionism and the right for monopolies to exist. Thus, Mellon was an ardent supporter of the Republican party, and subsequently became the Secretary of the Treasury under President Harding. During his time as Secretary of the Treasury, from 1921 to 1931, Mellon reduces the federal tax rate, reduced the national debt by a third, and restored the gold standard. He was a supporter of trickle-down economics.
The book received high praise, both from academics and from the public. Among the former, Eric Arnesen, professor of history at the University of Illinois at Chicago, states 'Cannadine tells that story in copious detail with considerable skill and sensitivity... [he] admirably succeeds in filling in what he views as a significant gap in American biography and history.'[7]Robert Whaples, professor of economics at Wake Forest University, compliments the degree to which Cannadine remained sympathetic and fair to Mellon despite him being, as Cannadine describes, 'an unsympathetic person with unappealing politics'.[8]
Outside of academia, the book was selected as one of the Best Non-Fiction Books of 2006 by the Boston Globe.[9] Rachel Aspden of The Guardian described the book was 'mesmerising'.[10]Roger Lowenstein, writing in The New York Times, praises Cannadine's "'fascinating' biography as a 'compelling portrait of a dour and lonely financier who was wounded in love, disappointed in his children and, tragically, ill-rewarded by his government."[11] Christoph DeMuth, then President of the American Enterprise Institute, claimed the book was the best biography of Mellon thus far, and the only one.
^Baker, Russell. "The Wealth of Loneliness". The New York Review of Books.
^"Andrew W. Mellon". The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation.
^Arnesen, Eric. "A well-told and detailed biography of America's dullest plutocrat". Chicago Tribune.
^Whaples, Robert. "Mellon: An American Life". EH.net.
^Kenney, Michael. "The best nonfiction of 2006". Boston Globe.
^Aspden, Rachel (10 December 2006). "The son of Scrooge". The Guardian.
^Lowenstein, Roger (24 November 2006). "Book Report: Mellon's sad legacy - Your Money - International Herald Tribune". The New York Times.
March 04, 2023
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This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Mellon An American Life news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2019 Learn how and when to remove this template message Mellon An American Life is a biographical book detailing the life Andrew Mellon 1855 1937 American banker businessman and philanthropist Written by Sir David Cannadine Dodge Professor of History at Princeton University the book describes how Mellon built his personal wealth by investing and running businesses in major industries eventually becoming the Secretary of the Treasury under Presidents Warren Harding Calvin Coolidge and Herbert Hoover 1 He was also noted for founding the National Gallery of Art in Washington D C Cannadine acknowledges the controversy that surrounds Mellon and the other industrialists of his era Like John D Rockefeller Jr Henry Clay Frick Andrew Carnegie John Pierpont Morgan Sr and William Randolph Hearst the businessmen were part of a fundamental transformation of the American economy in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries Mellon An American LifeAuthorSir David CannadineCountryEnglandLanguageEnglishSubjectHistory Business history U S historyGenreBiographyPublisherAlfred A KnopfPublication date2006Media typeHardcover print Pages778ISBN9780307386793LC ClassE748 M52 C36 2006A previous commissioned biography was written by Burton J Hendrick a well known historian and biographer of Andrew Carnegie But after the book was written it was decided that it would not be published Over 30 years later Cannadine was commissioned to write the book by Andrew Mellon s son Paul Mellon 1907 1999 He had access to the family s private archives and personal interviews Contents 1 Overview 2 Reception 3 See also 4 Further reading 5 ReferencesOverview EditThe book focuses on four areas of Mellon s life business politics art collector and philanthropist 2 3 He stresses that Mellon was not a self made financier thereby not embodying a rags to riches story but rather a riches to more riches story 4 In 1902 he was worth about 20 million while in 1921 135 million and in 1930 about 170 million Cannadine also chronicles Mellon s economic and political ideology He was an ardent supporter of laissez faire capitalism But as the author notes he also believed in protectionism and the right for monopolies to exist Thus Mellon was an ardent supporter of the Republican party and subsequently became the Secretary of the Treasury under President Harding During his time as Secretary of the Treasury from 1921 to 1931 Mellon reduces the federal tax rate reduced the national debt by a third and restored the gold standard He was a supporter of trickle down economics He then traces the events that led to Mellon s downfall the Wall Street crash of 1929 the loss in confidence from President Hoover and his resignation from the Treasury in 1932 5 He resigns and becomes United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom briefly After his departure from public life Mellon then turned to art collecting and philanthropy Over the course of his life Mellon gave away nearly 10 million much of which went to charities in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania and the National Gallery of Art 6 Reception EditThe book received high praise both from academics and from the public Among the former Eric Arnesen professor of history at the University of Illinois at Chicago states Cannadine tells that story in copious detail with considerable skill and sensitivity he admirably succeeds in filling in what he views as a significant gap in American biography and history 7 Robert Whaples professor of economics at Wake Forest University compliments the degree to which Cannadine remained sympathetic and fair to Mellon despite him being as Cannadine describes an unsympathetic person with unappealing politics 8 Outside of academia the book was selected as one of the Best Non Fiction Books of 2006 by the Boston Globe 9 Rachel Aspden of The Guardian described the book was mesmerising 10 Roger Lowenstein writing in The New York Times praises Cannadine s fascinating biography as a compelling portrait of a dour and lonely financier who was wounded in love disappointed in his children and tragically ill rewarded by his government 11 Christoph DeMuth then President of the American Enterprise Institute claimed the book was the best biography of Mellon thus far and the only one See also EditGilded AgeFurther reading EditAlfred D Chandler Jr The Visible Hand The Managerial Revolution in American Business Cambridge Harvard University Press 1977 Ron Chernow The House of Morgan An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance New York Atlantic Monthly Press 1990 Ron Chernow Titan The Life of John D Rockefeller Sr New York Random House 2007 Walter Friedman Fortune Tellers The Story of America s First Economic Forecasters Princeton Princeton University Press 2003 David Nasaw Andrew Carnegie New York Penguin Press 2006 T J Stiles The First Tycoon The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt New York Alfred A Knopf 2009 Jean Strouse Morgan American Financier New York Random House 1999 References Edit Mellon Penguin Random House Andrew W Mellon The Andrew W Mellon Foundation Brown Abram 175 Years Later The Mellons Have Never Been Richer How d They Do It Forbes Mellon An American Life C Span Baker Russell The Wealth of Loneliness The New York Review of Books Andrew W Mellon The Andrew W Mellon Foundation Arnesen Eric A well told and detailed biography of America s dullest plutocrat Chicago Tribune Whaples Robert Mellon An American Life EH net Kenney Michael The best nonfiction of 2006 Boston Globe Aspden Rachel 10 December 2006 The son of Scrooge The Guardian Lowenstein Roger 24 November 2006 Book Report Mellon s sad legacy Your Money International Herald Tribune The New York Times Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mellon An American Life amp oldid 1135352881, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
