The Merchant of Power: Sam Insull, Thomas Edison, and the Creation of the Modern Metropolis

A “brilliant” account of an American mogul who inspired Citizen Kane “brings Insull back to complicated life . . . should revive interest in a forgotten giant” (Chicago Sun-Times).

A timely rags-to-riches story, The Merchant of Power recounts how Sam Insull—right hand to Thomas Edison—went on to become one of the richest men in the world, pivotal in the birth of General Electric and instrumental in the creation of the modern metropolis with his invention of the power grid, which still fuels major cities today. John Wasik, awarded the National Press Club Award for Consumer Journalism, had unprecedented access to Sam Insull’s archives, which include private correspondence with Thomas Edison. The extraordinary fall of a man extraordinary for his time is revealed in this cautionary tale about the excesses of corporate power.

“[A] focused look at one of the most interesting historical figures you’ve never heard of . . . fascinating.” —Fortune

“Does a fine job of telling the early story of utilities, moguls and scandal.” —Chicago Tribune

“I found the work of John Wasik not only personally enthralling but an informal history of that traumatic time.” —Studs Terkel, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of The Good War

“[A] bittersweet biography of one of the titans of American industry, business and finance . . . Highly readable.” —Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“A complex man whose life and times makes worthwhile reading.” —Publishers Weekly

“Wasik [has] taken his cue from current corporate scandals such as Enron and WorldCom in deciding to pluck Insull from semiobscurity, as many of Insull’s contemporaries (including FDR) believed him to be guilty (he was acquitted) of orchestrating the first large-scale corporate deception.” —Library Journal

© 2024 St. Martin's Press (Ebook): 9781250089120

Release date

Ebook: 2 July 2024