Pirates, Punters, and Politicians

This is a story about the beginning of the Bank of England. There are other histories available. They all have truth in them. But none has the whole truth. Pirates, Punters, and Politicians: How the Bank of England Was Foundedbrings into play the accidents, chances, and uncanny turns of events -from Spanish treasure and pirates to sheer good luck and political conniving -that had to occur for this particular bank to come about. A pirate is not very different from a banker, and a banker is not so very different from a storyteller. Chancers and risk-takers were needed to get the Bank of England up and running, and perhaps they are still needed to keep it running. Confirming a sense of wonder and extraordinary inevitability in great historic moments, it is a wonderful story that will stay with you, and you will want to share it with others.