Acknowledgements -- Preface -- Introduction "post fata resurgo" : at the origins of modern finance -- Halcyon days -- Half measures -- The impact of oil -- Full measures -- Wuthering heights -- References

"Banking historiography often does not sufficiently take into account bankers' deliberations of their decision making but rather limits investigation to considerations of profit maximisation. This book shows that the decision-making processes of 19th century bankers contemplating high-risk...