Summary of Stephen Birmingham's The Grandees

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Sample Book Insights: #1 Dr. Stern's book, which was published in 1924, made it clear that there was a difference between the old, established Jewish families and the Johnny-come-lately arrivals. The book emphasized a distinction between the old, established Jewish families and the Johnny-come-lately arrivals. #2 The Book made it clear that there were two types of Lazaruses: the old, who include the poet Emma Lazarus, and the new, who include the wealthy owners of Federated Department Stores.
#3 The Book of Americans is a cross-reference to The Social Register, as whenever names are listed in the Book, they are also listed in the Register. But the Book provides much more personal and gossipy information than The Social Register. #4 The Jewish community in America has been losing members as more and more Sephardic Jews turn away from Judaism and convert to Christianity. The Book also shows that prior to 1840, more than 15 percent of marriages were between Jews and Christians, and that of the total number of mixed marriages only 8 percent involved the conversion of the non-Jew to Judaism.