{"title":"Adam Lebor","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAdam LeBor\u003c\/strong\u003e crafts compelling narratives that blend meticulous research with gripping storytelling. His works often explore the undercurrents of history and geopolitics, revealing the hidden stories behind significant events and figures. Readers can expect a rich fusion of \u003cem\u003ecrime, thriller,\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003ehistorical insight\u003c\/em\u003e, drawing them into worlds marked by intrigue and complexity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFrom the intricate dynamics of finance to the shadows of military history, LeBor’s books offer a profound examination of power and corruption. Whether navigating the winding streets of Budapest or the vaults of global finance, his writing illuminates the forces that shape our world with clarity and suspense.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"tower-of-basel-by-adam-lebor-9781610393812","title":"Tower of Basel","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eTower of Basel\u003c\/i\u003e is the first investigative history of the world's most secretive global financial institution. Based on extensive archival research in Switzerland, Britain, and the United States, and in-depth interviews with key decision-makers, including Paul Volcker, the former chairman of the US Federal Reserve, Sir Mervyn King, governor of the Bank of England, and former senior Bank for International Settlements managers and officials, \u003ci\u003eTower of Basel\u003c\/i\u003e tells the inside story of the Bank for International Settlements (BIS): the central bankers' own bank.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCreated by the governors of the Bank of England and the Reichsbank in 1930, and protected by an international treaty, the BIS and its assets are legally beyond the reach of any government or jurisdiction. The bank is untouchable. Swiss authorities have no jurisdiction over the bank or its premises. The BIS has just 140 customers but made tax-free profits of 1.17 billion in 2011-2012.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eSince its creation, the bank has been at the heart of global events but has often gone unnoticed. Under Thomas McKittrick, the bank's American president from 1940-1946, the BIS was open for business throughout the Second World War. The BIS accepted looted Nazi gold, conducted foreign exchange deals for the Reichsbank, and was used by both the Allies and the Axis powers as a secret contact point to keep the channels of international finance open.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAfter 1945, the BIS, still behind the scenes, for decades provided the necessary technical and administrative support for the trans-European currency project, from the first attempts to harmonise exchange rates in the late 1940s to the launch of the Euro in 2002. It now stands at the centre of efforts to build a new global financial and regulatory architecture, once again proving that it has the power to shape the financial rules of our world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYet despite its pivotal role in the financial and political history of the last century and during the current economic crisis, the BIS has remained largely unknown, until now.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46481727914220,"sku":"9781610393812","price":59.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9871933482761.jpg?v=1748214841"},{"product_id":"tower-of-basel-by-adam-lebor-9781541706217","title":"Tower of Basel","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Bank for International Settlements is the bank for central banks. It is one of the world's most secretive—and most influential—global financial institutions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCreated by the governors of the Bank of England and the Reichsbank in 1930 and protected by an international treaty, the BIS and its assets are untouchable, legally beyond the reach of any government or jurisdiction. In the 1940s, under the supervision of an American banker, the BIS accepted looted Nazi gold, conducted deals for the Reichsbank, and was used by both the Allies and the Axis powers as a secret contact point to keep the channels of international finance open.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eNow updated with two new chapters on the BIS's role in the development of Central Bank Digital Currencies and their disturbing implications for civil liberties and personal financial autonomy, \u003ci\u003eTower of Basel\u003c\/i\u003e offers an incisive and enthralling picture of one of the most powerful financial organizations to ever exist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Hachette Aotearoa New Zealand","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":67720743583980,"sku":"9781541706217","price":61.0,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781541706217-tower-of-basel-1.jpg?v=1791918484"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.live\/collections\/adam-lebor.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}