Product Description

The story of the pound, from its origins in the Dark Ages to its role today in cyberspace, when - single European currency or not - it may be coming to the end of its life.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #999712 in Books
• Published on: 2001-01-04
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 302 pages

From the Publisher
The story of the pound sterling from the Vikings to cyberspace - a biography of the currency that ruled the world and lasted a thousand years

About the Author
David Sinclair is a journalist and newspaper executive, most recently the editor of the Financial Mail. He is the author of several previous biographies, including Edgar Allan Poe (Dent), Dynasty: The Astors and their Times (Dent), and Two Georges: The Making of the Modern Monarchy

Customer Reviews

History in the minting
What a super book, taugh me more about REAL history than many others - this is about the driving force that steers an economy from barter into true commerce, and the people who made it happen. Some of them are a surprise, being revealed as less (or more, as the case may be) than one's previous conceptions. The populace doesn't suddenly decide they want a change of ruler or government - something prompts it, and we learn that money (or the lack) is usually the root cause.

But the main thrust of the book is the Pound - initially just that, a weight of precious metal, almost useless for normal business, so the economies of scale and convenience demanded an alternative, and also some method of defeating the 'clippers' , forgers and money launderers (a long-standing problem, this!).

Impeccable research and a flowing style make this an eminently readable and enjoyable book. *****.

first rate
This a gripping description of the history of the pound - and a brilliant guide to anyone who wonders: what is money?

excellent
Anyone who is puzzled by the concept of money should read this well-written, thoroughly researched and thought-provoking book. Superb.