A gripping, groundbreaking biography of Cornelius Vanderbilt, the combative business titan whose genius and force of will created modern capitalism.

NATIONAL BESTSELLER
WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD
In this groundbreaking biography, T.J. Stiles tells the dramatic story of Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt, the combative man and American icon who, through his genius and force of will, did more than perhaps any other individual to create modern capitalism. Meticulously researched and elegantly written, “The First Tycoon” describes an improbable life, from Vanderbilt's humble birth during the presidency of George Washington to his death as one of the richest men in American history. In between we see how the Commodore helped to launch the transportation revolution, propel the Gold Rush, reshape Manhattan, and invent the modern corporation. Epic in its scope and success, the life of Vanderbilt is also the story of the rise of America itself.

Review
A “The New York Times” Notable Book
A “Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle, The New Yorker, Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor, ” and “Kansas City Star” Book of the Year
"A mighty—and mighty confident—work. . . . This is state-of-the-art biography. . . . “The First Tycoon ”has been widely praised, and rightly so. . . . This is state-of-the-art biography."
—“The New York Times”
“Superbly written and researched. . . . Worthy of its subject.”
—“The Economist”
"Truly remarkable. . . . A landmark study that significantly enhances one's understanding of U.S. economic history. . . . [Stiles is] one of the most exciting writers in the field."
—“Foreign Affairs”
“Stiles has painted a full-bodied, nuanced picture of the man. . . . Elegance of style and fair-minded intent illuminate Stiles's latest, expectedly profound exploration of American culture in the raw.”
—“The Boston Globe”
"Stiles, a superb researcher, has un

Prizes
Winner of Pulitzer Prize for Biography 2010.

Stiles has edited four previous In Their Own Words collections.