Description
Book SynopsisAmerica''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 gener
Trade ReviewA 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 *
