Published in November, 2007 by St Martin's Press, The Bronfmans family story is a fascinating and improbable saga. It is dominated by "Mr Sam," the single greatest figure in the history of the liquor business, the man who made drinking whisky respectable in the United States and built Seagram into the first worldwide empire in wine and spirits. After Sam's death in 1971, his oldest son, Edgar, maintained the business, and masterminded a major coup when he translated a small investment in oil made by his father into a 25 per cent stake in the mighty DuPont company. But in the 1990's, Edgar allowed his son Edgar, Jr to play media tycoon. The stake in Dupont was sold and reinvested in Universal, which was practically given away in a merger with French media giant Vivendi. When the bubble burst, the family lost Seagram and an untold fortune.The story of this amazing family is about more than booze and business. This book complements very well "A Double Scotch" which is about the Bronfman's brilliant success in Scotland where they brought entirely new marketing techniiques to bear. Currently available only in papeback.
