The Life & Times of An American Titan book by Alexandra Villard De Borchgrave &

The Life &. Times of An American Titan book by Alexandra Villard De Borchgrave & John Cullen book. Henry Villard is a name not widely known today, but a century ago this would not have been the case. This book is a biography by Alexandra de Borchgrave & John Cullen of her great-grandfather's rise from penniless and prospectless young German immigrant to prominence and wealth has the fast pace & rich detail of a novel & meticulous research of a good history. HenryVillard was one of the most remarkable and important figures to shape the tumultuous history of nineteenth century America. A preeminent Civil War journalist, and industrialist, and a financial maverick. His courage, perseverance and farsightedness made him the equal of such titans of his day as J.P.Morgan, John D.Rockefeller & Andrew Carnegie. Penniless and not speaking a word of English, Villard emigrated in 1853 from German at the age of eighteen, leaving behind the privileges and expectations of his affluent, stifling parentage. Within five years of arriving on American soil, he had mastered the language and was covering the event of the day for the nation's top newspapers. Villard reported firsthand on the Lincoln-Douglas debates and later from the front lines of the Civil War, filed graphic, hard-hitting reports that earned him the admiration of the newspaper community. His circle of acquaintances included President Lincoln, General Grant & the famed abolitionist William Lloyd Garrison. Book pages 414