Millionaire

In "Millionaire," Janet Gleeson chronicles the extraordinary rise and fall of John Law, a financial innovator who transformed the French economy after King Louis XIV's death in 1715. Initially dismissed by Queen Anne, Law found success in Paris by proposing a bank that issued paper money backed by land value. His ideas led to immense profits for shareholders, sparking a frenzy of speculation that ultimately resulted in a devastating market crash. This gripping narrative captures the tumult of a period where fortunes were dramatically exchanged, laying the groundwork for modern fiscal philosophy.