Commodore Vanderbilt, the Rise of Big Business, and the Transformation of American Radicalism

Event Details

Author T.J. STILES discussed his most recent book, The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt (Knopf, 2009), in which he argues that Vanderbilt revolutionized business as well as its relationship to politics. Stiles is also the author of Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War (Vintage, 2003), and has written for the New York Times Book Review, The Atlantic online, Smithsonian, and the Los Angeles Times. He served as historical advisor and onscreen expert for “Jesse James” and “Grand Central,” two films in the PBS documentary series American Experience.