Why read The Mystery of Overend & Gurney?

Book cover of The Mystery of Overend & Gurney: A Financial Scandal in Victorian London

Book description

This is an entertaining and intriguing account portrait of a period in history and a financial event that was the Barings scandal of its day. In May 1866, Overend and Gurney, the City of London's leading discount house - with a turnover second only to that of the Bank of…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Mystery of Overend & Gurney as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Kevin Dowd

Author

A gripping portrait of a Dickensian financial scandal that led to the last English bank run before the run on Northern Rock in 2007. Founded in 1800 and controlled by Quakers, the firm that was to become Overend and Gurney grew to become London’s leading discount house, specialising in the safe business of discounting bills of exchange. In the 1850s, it became more aggressive and was eventually investing depositors’ funds in highly speculative ventures that promised spectacular profits that never materialised. When market conditions became adverse, Overend and Gurney found itself in dire straits. The Bank of England refused to…

From Kevin's list on financial crises.