The Life and Legend of E. H. Harriman

By Maury Klein | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

To Americans living in the early twentieth century, E. H. Harriman was as familiar a name as J. P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and Andrew Carnegie. Like his fellow businessmen, Harriman (1847–1909) had become the symbol for an entire industry: Morgan stood for banking, Rockefeller for oil, Carnegie for iron and steel, and Harriman for railroads. Here, Maury Klein offers the first in-depth biography in more than seventy-five years of this influential yet surprisingly understudied figure.

A Wall Street banker until age fifty, Harriman catapulted into the railroad arena in 1897, gaining control of the Union Pacific Railroad as it emerged from bankruptcy and successfully modernizing every aspect of its operation. He went on to expand his empire by acquiring large stakes in other railroads, including the Southern Pacific and the Baltimore and Ohio, in the process clashing with such foes as James J. Hill, J. P. Morgan, and Theodore Roosevelt.

With its new insights into the myths and controversies that surround Harriman’s career, this book reasserts his legacy as one of the great turn-of-the-century business titans.

Originally published 2000.

A UNC Press Enduring Edition — UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.

Editions of The Life and Legend of E. H. Harriman

Hardcover
ISBN 9780807825174
Paperback
ISBN 9780807865538
EBook
ISBN 9780807860779
EBook
ISBN 9798890872371
EBook
ISBN 9780807838037
PDF
ISBN 9798890872388

Read an Excerpt

To Americans living in the early twentieth century, E. H. Harriman was as familiar a name as J. P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and Andrew Carnegie. Like his fellow businessmen, Harriman (1847–1909) had become the symbol for an entire industry: Morgan stood for banking, Rockefeller for oil, Carnegie for iron and steel, and Harriman for railroads. Here, Maury Klein offers the first in-depth biography in more than seventy-five years of this influential yet surprisingly understudied figure.

A Wall Street banker until age fifty, Harriman catapulted into the railroad arena in 1897, gaining control of the Union Pacific Railroad as it emerged from bankruptcy and successfully modernizing every aspect of its operation. He went on to expand his empire by acquiring large stakes in other railroads, including the Southern Pacific and the Baltimore and Ohio, in the process clashing with such foes as James J. Hill, J. P. Morgan, and Theodore Roosevelt.

With its new insights into the myths and controversies that surround Harriman’s career, this book reasserts his legacy as one of the great turn-of-the-century business titans.

Originally published 2000.

A UNC Press Enduring Edition — UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Life and Legend of E. H. Harriman about?

To Americans living in the early twentieth century, E. H. Harriman was as familiar a name as J. P. Morgan, John D. Rockefeller, and Andrew Carnegie. Like his fellow businessmen, Harriman (1847–1909) had become the symbol for an entire industry: Morgan stood for banking, Rockefeller for oil, Carnegie for iron and steel, and Harriman for railroads. Here, Maury Klein offers the first in-depth biography in more than seventy-five years of this influential yet surprisingly understudied figure.

A Wall Street banker until age fifty, Harriman catapulted into the railroad arena in 1897, gaining control of the Union Pacific Railroad as it emerged from bankruptcy and successfully modernizing every aspect of its operation. He went on to expand his empire by acquiring large stakes in other railroads, including the Southern Pacific and the Baltimore and Ohio, in the process clashing with such foes as James J. Hill, J. P. Morgan, and Theodore Roosevelt.

With its new insights into the myths and controversies that surround Harriman’s career, this book reasserts his legacy as one of the great turn-of-the-century business titans.

Originally published 2000.

A UNC Press Enduring Edition — UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Life and Legend of E. H. Harriman?

Economics, Finance, Business and Management > Business and Management > Management and management techniques

Where can I read a sample of The Life and Legend of E. H. Harriman?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807825174

How long is The Life and Legend of E. H. Harriman and how many pages does it have?

The Life and Legend of E. H. Harriman has 544 page(s)

Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Life and Legend of E. H. Harriman?

Maury Klein

Who is the Publisher of the book The Life and Legend of E. H. Harriman?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

The Life and Legend of E. H. Harriman is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807825174) and paperback(ISBN 9780807865538) and ebook(ISBN 9780807860779) and ebook(ISBN 9798890872371) and ebook(ISBN 9780807838037) and pdf(ISBN 9798890872388)

Where can I buy The Life and Legend of E. H. Harriman online or support local independent bookshops?

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Where can I buy The Life and Legend of E. H. Harriman?