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The Match King: Ivar Kreuger and the Financial Scandal of the Century

The Match King: Ivar Kreuger and the Financial Scandal of the Century

by Frank Partnoy (Author)

  • Used

    Hardcover 2009

    $12.61
Synopsis

This story opens with the purchase of a 9mm Browning at a small Paris gun shop by a man named Ivar Kreuger. The next morning, the world's leading bankers nervously waited to ask Ivar about some forged Italian bonds. Hours later, his dead body was discovered and the largest financial empire of the era collapsed. This book traces Ivar's meteoric rise from the obscurity of provincial Sweden, to become a construction mogul and then a global business oligarch. Ivar acquired match monopolies throughout the world and usurped J. P. Morgan to become the leading lender to foreign governments. His financial innovations resonate today. A self made media figure, he discovered and promoted Greta Garbo but also advised politicians, including President Hoover. Was he a financial genius or merely a schemer? Did he really stage his own suicide? This book brings back to life one of the greatest swindlers of all times.

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More Information

Format: Hardcover
 Pages: 288
 Edition: First Editon
 Publisher: Profile Business
Published: 19 Feb 2009
ISBN 10: 1861979665
ISBN 13: 9781861979667
Book Overview: In the 1920's Ivar Kreuger occupied roughly the same position as Warren Buffett, George Soros, Donald Trump, Robert Maxwell and the Enron Swindlers all rolled into one. He was the most controversial business figure of the roaring 20's, and he put together the greatest financial swindle of the century - bringing on what became known as the 'Kreuger crash'.
 Prizes: Shortlisted for Financial Times/Goldman Sachs Business Book of the Year Award 2009.

Media Reviews
This book opened my eyes to the world of a glamorous financial wizard with the ability to confuse experts in finance and accounting. It holds many parallels in present times. Our Minister for Finance could do worse than make this compulsory reading for anybody involved in the regulation of our financial sector in the future. -- Feargal Quinn, member of Seanad Eireann and author of Crowning the Customer * Irish Times *
'Frank Partnoy commends Kreuger for his innovations in finance and he makes the world of international capitalism not just easy to understand but fascinating. The shadowy figure of Kreuger becomes a little less indistinct through Partnoy's gripping account of his life, gambles and downfall.' -- Kevin McCardle * Metro *
'Captivating' -- Christopher Silvester * Spectator Business *
Partnoy's persuasive analysis and entertaining narrative is very pertinent to the present culture of high finance and low morality -- Iain Finlayson * The Times *
'An enthralling cautionary tale of the recurring excesses of global finance...The author displays a vivid touch in describing the Swedish parvenu's successful efforts to infiltrate the upper echelons of US finance.' -- Francesco Guerrera * Financial Times *
[The Match King] provides a fascinating insight into how high society falls prey to such colourful characters. Kreuger's story is uncannily relevant today. * The Economist *
Partnoy vividly recreates the turbulent Wall Street of the 1920s to tell the story of the Swedish magnate whose death precipitated the Kreuger crash of 1932. A powerful reminder that today's scandals had vast and destructive predecessors * Financial Times - Holiday Reading *
Frank Partnoy tells the story of Krueger's rise and fall with great pace...Anyone seeking insights into the recent cases of Bernard Madoff or Allen Stanford will find echoes in Frank Partnoy's fascinating account of the Match King -- Cristopher Godden * Times Literary Supplement *
Author Bio
Frank Partnoy is the author of two bestselling books: F.I.A.S.C.O. (9781861970770), which was a finalist for the FT business book award, and Infectious Greed (9781861974730), which the Sunday Times recently recommended as a financial classic - both published by Profile. He has worked as an investment banker and a corporate lawyer, and has given expert financial evidence before both the United States Senate and House of Representatives. He is a graduate of Yale Law School and currently teaches at the University of San Diego.