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Commodore Vanderbilt an Epic of American Achievement
Hardcover
Business BiographiesEconomics19th Century United States History
ISBN13: 9781025563121
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 404
Weight: 1.63
Height: 0.94 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
Commodore Vanderbilt an Epic of American Achievement is a sweeping biographical narrative that chronicles the extraordinary life and legacy of Cornelius Vanderbilt, one of the most influential figures in American industrial history. Arthur D. Howden Smith captures the relentless ambition and strategic brilliance of a man who rose from humble beginnings as a ferryman to become a titan of the Gilded Age and the wealthiest individual in the United States.
The work explores Vanderbilt's pivotal role in transforming the nation's transportation infrastructure, detailing his dominance of the steamship industry and his subsequent consolidation of the great railroad networks. Through a rigorous examination of his business maneuvers and personal character, the book illustrates how the Commodore helped shape the economic landscape of 19th-century America. It is a story of fierce competition, technological transition, and the birth of modern corporate power.
Readers will find a compelling account of a man who personified the American spirit of enterprise in its most aggressive and expansive form. Smith's prose brings to life the era of rapid expansion and the rugged individualism that defined the period, making this an essential read for anyone interested in the foundations of American capitalism and the life of its most formidable architect.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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