"Our Crowd": The Great Jewish Families of New York

Written by Stephen Birmingham

Narrated by Mel Foster

The New York Times–bestselling history of the rise of the most powerful and privileged Jewish families in America

They immigrated to America from Germany in the nineteenth century with names like Loeb, Sachs, Seligman, Lehman, Guggenheim, and Goldman. From tenements on the Lower East Side to Park Avenue mansions, this handful of Jewish families turned small businesses into imposing enterprises and amassed spectacular fortunes. But despite possessing breathtaking wealth that rivaled the Astors and Rockefellers, they were barred by the gentile establishment from the lofty realm of "the 400," a register of New York's most elite, because of their religion and humble backgrounds. In response, they created their own elite "100," a privileged society as opulent and exclusive as the one that had refused them entry.

"Our Crowd" is the fascinating story of this rarefied society. Based on letters, documents, diary entries, and intimate personal remembrances of family lore by members of these most illustrious clans, it is an engrossing portrait of upper-class Jewish life over two centuries; a riveting story of the bankers, brokers, financiers, philanthropists, and business tycoons who started with nothing and turned their family names into American institutions.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: Jul 2, 2019
• ISBN: 9781978657892

Stephen Birmingham

Stephen Birmingham (1929–2015) was an American author of more than thirty books. Born in Hartford, Connecticut, he graduated from Williams College in 1953 and taught writing at the University of Cincinnati. Birmingham’s work focuses on the upper class in America. He’s written about the African American elite in Certain People and prominent Jewish society in Our Crowd: The Great Jewish Families of New York, The Grandees: The Story of America’s Sephardic Elite, and The Rest of Us: The Rise of America’s Eastern European Jews. His work also encompasses several novels including The Auerbach Will, The LeBaron Secret, Shades of Fortune, and The Rothman Scandal, and other non-fiction titles such as California Rich, The Grandes Dames, and Life at the Dakota: New York’s Most Unusual Address.

Reviews for "Our Crowd"

[marcello_324836275 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Another fascinating account of social history by Stephen Birmingham. Excellent narration by Mel Foster.

[David Schechter · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved the book when I first read it decades ago and very much appreciate the opportunity to listen to the audio book version which came out only a year ago in 2019.

[etxgardener · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I read this book when it first came out, and now, 54 years later, it was interesting to listen to the audio version of this book and realize that most of the great banking institutions set up by this close knit group of German Jews residing in New York City are no more, and how these proud people’s way of life is now as extinct as the dodo bird.