The Great Swindle: A History of the South Sea Bubble

Long before sub-prime lending torpedoed the global economy in 2008, before the stock market crash of 1929, before Ponzi invented his schemes, the South Sea Company pulled off their own great swindle in 18th century Britain. Remarkably, the ways of the Company were not unique in Europe. The Mississippi Bubble had just wreaked similar havoc across the channel in France.

Virginia Cowles reveals the conspiracies that ripped-off two nations and implicated both Royal houses. She exposes the individuals responsible for the swindle, how they did it and how two scams so similar and so devastating could occur so close together.

The Great Swindle is a compelling narrative of greed, corruption and devastation. Its relevance today need not be stated, the parallels are clear. Not only do the ways of the stock market continue to boggle the minds of most of us, 'expert' and layman alike, but also there continues to be those willing and able to exploit that to their material advantage. Cowles reveals this has been the case for centuries. Worse still, it's clear those responsible used their wealth and power to get away with it then as they still do today.

Virginia Cowles (1910-83) was a well-respected American journalist and biographer, especially known for her coverage of the Spanish Civil War and the Second World War. For her service as a war correspondent she was awarded an OBE by the British government in 1947. She authored fifteen books, about her journalistic experiences, various historical topics, figures and families, and was a contributor to Vogue and Harper's. She is also the author of 'The Astors', 'The Romanovs' and 'The Rothschilds'.

Praise for Virginia Cowles.

'A fascinating historical read' - The Telegraph

'A rarity and a joy - a witty novel' - Birmingham Daily Post

'A luminously sketched view of human folly' - The New York Times

'For the political background alone you must read Cowles' book, which deals with it admirably' - Country Life