Breaking Rockefeller: The Incredible Story of the Ambitious Rivals Who Toppled an Oil Empire (2017)

The incredible tale of how ambitious oil rivals Marcus Samuel, Jr. and Henri Deterding joined forces to topple the Standard Oil empire Marcus Samuel, Jr., is an unorthodox Jewish merchant trader. Henri Deterding is a take-no-prisoners oilman. In 1889, John D. Rockefeller is at the peak of his power. Having annihilated all competition and possessing near-total domination of the market, even the U.S. government is wary of challenging the great "anaconda" of Standard Oil. The Standard never loses--that is until Samuel and Deterding team up to form Royal Dutch Shell. A riveting account of ambition, oil, and greed, Breaking Rockefeller traces Samuel's rise from outsider to the heights of the British aristocracy, Deterding's conquest of America, and the collapse of Rockefeller's monopoly. The beginning of the twentieth century is a time when vast fortunes were made and lost. Taking readers through the rough and tumble of East London's streets, the twilight turmoil of czarist Russia, to the halls of the British Parliament, and right down Broadway in New York City, Peter Doran offers a richly detailed, fresh perspective on how Samuel and Deterding beat the world's richest man at his own game. "Gripping . . . timely . . . a vivid reminder of the dangers of monopolies, and of the merits of no-holds barred competition and technological upheaval." -- The Economist "Marcus Samuel, Jr. is a Jewish merchant trader. Henri Deterding is a take-no-prisoners oilman. In 1889, John D. Rockefeller is at the peak of his power. Having annihilated all competition and possessing near-total domination of the market, even the U.S. government is wary of challenging the great "anaconda" of Standard Oil. The Standard never loses - that is until Samuel and Deterding team up to form Royal Dutch Shell. A riveting account of ambition, oil, and greed, Breaking Rockefeller traces Samuel's rise from outsider to the heights of British aristocracy, Deterding's conquest of America, and the collapse of Rockefeller's monopoly. The result is a richly detailed, fresh perspective on how two rivals beat the world's richest man at his own game." -- Back cover Title Page Copyright Dedication Epigraph Introduction Chapter 1 The King of Broadway Chapter 2 The Merchant of Houndsditch Chapter 3 The Insider Chapter 4 Rascality of All Descriptions Chapter 5 It Can’t Be Done Chapter 6 The Carnivorous Snail Chapter 7 The Royal Crown Chapter 8 The Hidden Map Chapter 9 The Knight in the Mote Chapter 10 The Deal of the Century Chapter 11 The Rivals Chapter 12 The Echo of Applause Chapter 13 Reversals of Fortune Chapter 14 The Black City in Red Chapter 15 The Warhorse and the Stallion Chapter 16 The “Fateful Plunge” Chapter 17 The Colossus Falls Chapter 18 “We Must Take America” Chapter 19 Wealth Beyond Measure Chapter 20 Legacies Chapter 21 The Enduring Puzzle Photographs Acknowledgments Notes Bibliography Index "The author of the popular History of Oil podcast traces the early-20th-century rivalry between John D. Rockefeller's Standard Oil and Royal Dutch Shell, describing the origins of partners Marcus Samuel, Jr. and Henri Deterding and how they used respective talents to break Rockefeller's daunting monopoly"-- NoveList