American Rascal: How Jay Gould Built Wall Street’s Biggest Fortune Paperback Ed. by Greg Steinmetz

American Rascal is a fast-paced biography of Jay Gould (1836–1892), written by Greg Steinmetz. The book depicts how Gould — a poor farmer’s son — rose from hardship to become one of 19th-century America’s most powerful financiers.

Steinmetz argues Gould was as wealthy, ambitious, and influential as other titans of his era, yet he remains largely forgotten because he never built a lasting philanthropic legacy.

The biography recounts Gould’s early years and self-education, his entry into business as a surveyor and tanner, then his shift to railroads, gold, and stock speculation.

As Gould gained control over railroads and tried to corner the gold market, he manipulated markets using aggressive tactics — shorting stocks, insider trading, rumor-mongering, and political corruption.