NATIONAL BESTSELLER

WINNER OF THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD

In this groundbreakingbiography, T.J. Stiles tells the dramatic story of Cornelius “Commodore” Vanderbilt, the combative man and American icon who, through his genius and force of will, did more than perhaps any other individual to create modern capitalism. Meticulously researched and elegantly written, The First Tycoon describes an improbable life, from Vanderbilt’s humble birth during the presidency of George Washington to his death as one of the richest men in American history. In between we see how the Commodore helped to launch the transportation revolution, propel the Gold Rush, reshape Manhattan, and invent the modern corporation. Epic in its scope and success, the life of Vanderbilt is also the story of the rise of America itself.

*美国著名历史学家、传记作家和畅销书作家。曾在加拿大卡尔顿大学和美国哥伦比亚大学研究历史。

*美国作家协会理事会成员，国际传记作家组织（Biographers International Organization）顾问委员会委员；获古根海姆研究基金资助。

*他的第一本著作《杰西•詹姆斯——美国内战最后的反叛者》（Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War）获奖无数，被《星期日泰晤士报》誉为“最优秀的5本传记作品之一”。鸿篇巨制《第一大亨》更是荣膺“美国国家图书奖”和“普利策传记奖”，横扫各大畅销书榜。

*他在武术方面深具造诣，研习武术32年之久，目前也是一名武术教练。