The Summit

The Summit

A brilliant narrative history of the most colorful and important economic summit in historyâ€•held during the height of World War II.
The idea of world leaders gathering in the midst of economic crisis has become all too familiar. But the meeting at Bretton Woods in 1944 was different. It was the only time countries from around the world have agreed to overhaul the structure of the international monetary system. Against all odds, they were successful. The system they set up presided over the longest, strongest and most stable period of growth the world economy has ever seen. Its demise some decades later was at least partly responsible for the periodic economic crises that culminated in the financial collapse of the 2000s.

But what everyone has always assumed to be a dry economic conference was in fact replete with drama. The delegates spent half the time at each other's throats and the other half drinking in the hotel bar. The Russians nearly capsized the entire project. The French threatened to walk out, repeatedly. All the while war in Europe raged on.

At the very heart of the conference was the love-hate relationship between the Briton John Maynard Keynes, the greatest economist of his day, who suffered a heart attack at the conference itself and who was a true worldwide celebrity - and his American counterpart Harry Dexter White (later revealed to be passing information secretly to Russian spies). Both were intent on creating an economic settlement which would put right the wrongs of Versailles. Both were working to prevent another world war. But they were also working to defend their countries' national interests.

Drawing on a wealth of unpublished accounts, diaries and oral histories, this brilliant book describes the conference in stunning color and clarity. Bringing to life the characters, events and economics and written with exceptional verve and narrative pace, this is an extraordinary debut from a talented new historian. 16 pages of B&W photographs
Country USA
Brand Pegasus Books
Manufacturer Pegasus Books
Binding Hardcover
ItemPartNumber 16 pages of B&W photographs
ReleaseDate 2015-02-15
UnitCount 1
EANs 9781605986814

Country	USA
Brand	Pegasus Books
Manufacturer	Pegasus Books
Binding	Hardcover
ItemPartNumber	16 pages of B&W photographs
ReleaseDate	2015-02-15
UnitCount	1
EANs	9781605986814

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