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Real Lace

America’s Irish Rich

Stephen Birmingham

America’s Irish Catholic rich have long enjoyed the designation of F.I.F., or First Irish Family or “Real Lace”, as it delineates their place in the “Irishtocracy”, where names such as Cuddihy, Murray, Doheny, and McDonnell inspire respect and awe. Yet, in almost every case, their origins in this country were humble. Fleeing the Irish potato famine in the 1840s, they found themselves penniless in the slums of New York and Boston where they were regarded as “invaders” and a curse, humiliated by signs that said ‘No Irish Need Apply’ and forced to accept jobs too degrading to be accepted by native and other immigrant populations. Nonetheless, they possessed one important advantage over other immigrants: they spoke the language. They were also, by nature and tradition, political. And they had ambition, courage, a fighting spirit, and—perhaps most important—Irish charm.

Here, in this engrossing and often hilarious book, we read of how the Irish elite emerged—frequently in less than a generation’s time—out of poverty into positions of both social and business prominence. One of the F.I.F., Robert J. Cuddihy, was behind one of the great publishing stories of the twentieth century, the rise and fall of the Literary Digest. Another, Thomas E. Murray, though little schooled, possessed an engineering genius that led to his control of a number of electrical and other patents, second only to Thomas Edison. Still another, Edward Doheny, was a key figure in the great Teapot Dome scandal of the Harding years. We read of the F.I.F.’s struggles to cling to their faith, and their determination to cope with the “Irish curse”: alcohol. In Real Lace Stephen Birmingham recounts the ultimate rags-to-riches story of the American Irish in a social history as entertaining as it is important.

Globe Pequot / Lyons Press

Pages: 336 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-4930-2470-4 • Paperback • August 2016 • $17.95 • (£13.99)

Subjects: History / Social History, History / Modern / 20th Century, Social Science / Emigration & Immigration, Social Science / Social Classes & Economic Disparity

Real Lace

America’s Irish Rich

Paperback

Summary

America’s Irish Catholic rich have long enjoyed the designation of F.I.F., or First Irish Family or “Real Lace”, as it delineates their place in the “Irishtocracy”, where names such as Cuddihy, Murray, Doheny, and McDonnell inspire respect and awe. Yet, in almost every case, their origins in this country were humble. Fleeing the Irish potato famine in the 1840s, they found themselves penniless in the slums of New York and Boston where they were regarded as “invaders” and a curse, humiliated by signs that said ‘No Irish Need Apply’ and forced to accept jobs too degrading to be accepted by native and other immigrant populations. Nonetheless, they possessed one important advantage over other immigrants: they spoke the language. They were also, by nature and tradition, political. And they had ambition, courage, a fighting spirit, and—perhaps most important—Irish charm.

Here, in this engrossing and often hilarious book, we read of how the Irish elite emerged—frequently in less than a generation’s time—out of poverty into positions of both social and business prominence. One of the F.I.F., Robert J. Cuddihy, was behind one of the great publishing stories of the twentieth century, the rise and fall of the Literary Digest. Another, Thomas E. Murray, though little schooled, possessed an engineering genius that led to his control of a number of electrical and other patents, second only to Thomas Edison. Still another, Edward Doheny, was a key figure in the great Teapot Dome scandal of the Harding years. We read of the F.I.F.’s struggles to cling to their faith, and their determination to cope with the “Irish curse”: alcohol. In Real Lace Stephen Birmingham recounts the ultimate rags-to-riches story of the American Irish in a social history as entertaining as it is important.

Details

Globe Pequot / Lyons Press

Pages: 336 • Trim: 6 x 9

978-1-4930-2470-4 • Paperback • August 2016 • $17.95 • (£13.99)

Subjects: History / Social History, History / Modern / 20th Century, Social Science / Emigration & Immigration, Social Science / Social Classes & Economic Disparity

Author

Stephen Birmingham is a preeminent social historian, known for his books The Right People, Real Lace, and The Grandees. He allows his reader unparalleled access to the most exclusive society sets, and tells their stories with great warmth and wit.

Reviews

A fascinating and absorbing chapter of New York social and financial history.
— Louis Auchincloss

Future American histories will have to take into account [this] financial and social history and imposing cast of characters.
— The New York Times Book Review

Real Lace

America’s Irish Rich

Stephen Birmingham

Real Lace

America’s Irish Rich

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