In the late nineteenth century, Newport, Rhode Island - with its giant marble mansions, lavish dinner parties, and vicious social climbing - is a summer playground of the very rich. Into this rarefied world comes infamous railroad mogul and robber baron Sam Driver. He wants his beautiful daughter to have the best Newport has to offer - even if that means breaking all the rules... John Jakes brings his formidable writing talent to bring to life an America of the 1890s, an era where outrageous opulence masked society's dark underbelly.

Merchant John Banister (1707-1767) of Newport, Rhode Island, wore many hats: exporter, importer, wholesaler, retailer, money-lender, extender of credit and insurer, owner and outfitter of sailing vessels, and ship builder for the slave trade. His recently discovered accounting records reveal his role in transforming colonial trade in mid-18th century America. He combined business acumen and a strong work ethic with knowledge of the law and new technologies. Through his maritime activities and real estate development, he was a rain-maker for artisans, workers and producers, contributing to income opportunities for businesswomen, freemen and slaves. Drawing on Banister's meticulous daybooks, ledgers, letters and receipts, the author analyzes his contribution to the economic history of colonial America, highlighting the complexity of the commerce of the era.

It got me thinking about the hundreds of years of Newport Beach history. It made me excited about from where they came. Hail Chinigchinich! --Tom Johnson, former publisher of the Daily Pilot and Newport Beach Independent Reading this epic is like riding in a time machine from the first Indians in the area through the Spanish, Mexican and American settlements in the 20th Century. Through a series of short stories, Davis weaves his opus with suspense, conflict, humor, romance, heroes, betrayal, murder and hope. It reads like a TV mini-series because of his vivid, descriptive, often conversational and colorful writing. --Chris MacDonald, seecalifornia.com Old-time fans of Dallas or Dynasty will appreciate how the stories of family betrayal, illegitimacy and murder are played out here in our own community. -Keith Curry, Former Mayor of Newport Beach, CA James Michener, move over! --John Tobin, Western Australia