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.

*美國著名曆史學傢、傳記作傢和暢銷書作傢。曾在加拿大卡爾頓大學和美國哥倫比亞大學研究曆史。

*美國作傢協會理事會成員，國際傳記作傢組織（Biographers International Organization）顧問委員會委員；獲古根海姆研究基金資助。

*他的第一本著作《傑西•詹姆斯——美國內戰最後的反叛者》（Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War）獲奬無數，被《星期日泰晤士報》譽為“最優秀的5本傳記作品之一”。鴻篇巨製《第一大亨》更是榮膺“美國國傢圖書奬”和“普利策傳記奬”，橫掃各大暢銷書榜。

*他在武術方麵深具造詣，研習武術32年之久，目前也是一名武術教練。