The Summit: Bretton Woods, 1944: J. M. Keynes and the Reshaping of the Global Economy

A brilliant narrative history of the most colorful and important economic summit in history—held during the height of World War II.The idea of world leaders gathering in the midst of economic crisis is now familiar. But 1944's meeting at Bretton Woods was different. It was the only time the leading countries in the world agreed to overhaul the structure of the international monetary system. Their resulting system presided over the longest period of growth in history.But what everyone has assumed to be a dry economic conference was in fact replete with drama. The delegates spent half the time at each other's throats and the other half drinking in the bar. All the while, war in Europe raged on.
The heart of the conference was the love-hate relationship between John Maynard Keynes—the greatest economist of his day, who suffered a heart attack at the conference—and his American counterpart Harry Dexter White (later revealed to be passing information to Russian spies). Written with exceptional verve and narrative pace, this is an extraordinary debut from a talented new historian.

1119711785
The Summit: Bretton Woods, 1944: J. M. Keynes and the Reshaping of the Global Economy

A brilliant narrative history of the most colorful and important economic summit in history—held during the height of World War II.The idea of world leaders gathering in the midst of economic crisis is now familiar. But 1944's meeting at Bretton Woods was different. It was the only time the leading countries in the world agreed to overhaul the structure of the international monetary system. Their resulting system presided over the longest period of growth in history.But what everyone has assumed to be a dry economic conference was in fact replete with drama. The delegates spent half the time at each other's throats and the other half drinking in the bar. All the while, war in Europe raged on.
The heart of the conference was the love-hate relationship between John Maynard Keynes—the greatest economist of his day, who suffered a heart attack at the conference—and his American counterpart Harry Dexter White (later revealed to be passing information to Russian spies). Written with exceptional verve and narrative pace, this is an extraordinary debut from a talented new historian.

17.95 Out Of Stock
The Summit: Bretton Woods, 1944: J. M. Keynes and the Reshaping of the Global Economy

The Summit: Bretton Woods, 1944: J. M. Keynes and the Reshaping of the Global Economy

by Ed Conway
The Summit: Bretton Woods, 1944: J. M. Keynes and the Reshaping of the Global Economy

The Summit: Bretton Woods, 1944: J. M. Keynes and the Reshaping of the Global Economy

by Ed Conway

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Overview

A brilliant narrative history of the most colorful and important economic summit in history—held during the height of World War II.The idea of world leaders gathering in the midst of economic crisis is now familiar. But 1944's meeting at Bretton Woods was different. It was the only time the leading countries in the world agreed to overhaul the structure of the international monetary system. Their resulting system presided over the longest period of growth in history.But what everyone has assumed to be a dry economic conference was in fact replete with drama. The delegates spent half the time at each other's throats and the other half drinking in the bar. All the while, war in Europe raged on.
The heart of the conference was the love-hate relationship between John Maynard Keynes—the greatest economist of his day, who suffered a heart attack at the conference—and his American counterpart Harry Dexter White (later revealed to be passing information to Russian spies). Written with exceptional verve and narrative pace, this is an extraordinary debut from a talented new historian.


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781605989655
Publisher: Pegasus Books
Publication date: 03/07/2016
Pages: 480
Sales rank: 443,475
Product dimensions: 5.70(w) x 8.50(h) x 1.20(d)

About the Author

Ed Conway is the economics editor of Sky News. Previously he was the economics editor of theDaily Telegraphand theSunday Telegraph. His appointment to this role, when only twenty-five, made him the youngest ever economics editor of a British national newspaper. He lives in London.

Table of Contents

Prologue ix

1 The Mount Washington

Part I Collapse

2 The Bitter Peace 21

3 A Short History of Gold 54

4 Economic Consequences 64

Part II Making Plans

5 Lunatic Proposals 99

6 Bedlam 121

7 The Wrong Harry White 151

8 Snakebite Party 165

9 Babel on Wheels 183

Part III The Summit

10 Week One 201

11 Week Two 235

12 Week Three 264

Part IV The Life and Death of Bretton Woods

13 Unmitigated Evil 289

14 Starvation Corner 309

15 Onward Christian Soldiers 334

16 The Bretton Woods System 365

Epilogue 386

Acknowledgements 409

Notes 413

Index 439

About the Author 454

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