Author Henry Clews was a giant figure in finance during the late nineteenth century, and his firsthand account brings this colorful era to life like never before. This abridged version of an investment classic touches on a wide range of important financial issues, including: The causes and consequences of Wall Street panicsThe influence of Wall Street on national politicsHow individuals like Jay Gould, Daniel Drew, and Commodore Vanderbilt made their fortunesThe characteristics of winning and losing speculatorsHow operators attempted to corner the markets for individual stocks