Dream Road

Author: [USA] Wachter/Li Man and others
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: This is a skillfully written and smoothly narrated history of Wall Street, covering its birth to its early adulthood. Rich in content and sharp in insight, it vividly portrays the individuals and powerful forces that shaped the modern global financial center for both general readers and experts. We always hear its name, but what exactly is Wall Street? Dream Street gives us the answer: why it's important, how it affects us, and why it has remained so influential. Wachter's ingenuity and masterful craftsmanship bring all the material together in a compelling way. Wall Street, as the most famous street in the USA, is intricately linked with American history, the development of capitalism, and the ups and downs of financial markets—it has no equal and no other place has given birth to such myths or dreams and aspirations. Using original archival research and a wealth of historical photographs, along with vivid narration, this book offers a best-selling history of America's great symbol, while also providing a critical evaluation of Wall Street's role in the political, economic, and cultural development of the USA. Author Wachter captures the key figures who shaped the early development of Wall Street—not only the well-known names but also the less celebrated ordinary people. He traces the broader social development history and its own objective structural evolution. His focus is on the New York Stock Exchange, the most important institution on Wall Street, but he does not overlook the histories of other banks and exchanges. He explores the ways Wall Street influences politics and how it, in turn, is shaped by stronger political forces. He also analyzes the complex relationship between Wall Street and two other streets—Pennsylvania Avenue and Central Street—which represent the power of the U.S. government and its people.