The King of Oil
 Hardcover edition | |
| Author | Daniel Ammann |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Subject | Marc Rich,commodity trading |
| Genre | Non-fiction |
| Published | October 13, 2009 |
| Publisher | St. Martin's Press |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print, e-book |
| Pages | 320 pages |
| ISBN | 978-0312570743 |
| OCLC | 695771883 |
The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Richis a non-fiction book by Swiss investigative journalistDaniel Ammann.[1][2][3][4][5]The book was initially released on October 13, 2009 bySt. Martin's Press.It became an international bestseller and was published in nine languages.
Synopsis
[edit]The book focuses on the biography ofMarc Rich,a prominent international financier and commodity trader, who became a billionaire in the 1970s, arguably inventing the spot market for oil, grain, and metals. His Switzerland-based corporation Marc Rich + Co. AG actively traded with the apartheid regime of South Africa, Iran underAyatollah Khomeini,Cuba, Nigeria under dictatorSani Abacha,China, the Soviet Union, and later Russia.[6][7]Indicted on some 65 criminal counts, including incometax evasion,wire fraud,racketeering,and trading with Iran during the oil embargo, Rich, nevertheless, received a widely criticized presidential pardon from U.S. President Bill Clinton on his last day in office.
Reception
[edit]Bloombergnamed the book one of the best business books of the year and called it a "must-read".[8]TheDaily Beastcalled it a "journalistic coup".[9]A reviewer ofThe New York Timeswrote "the usually tight-lipped Mr. Rich gave an extensive account of his oil trading".[10]Le Mondecommented "The book reads like a thriller".[11]A reviewer ofKirkus Reviewsstated "A walking-on-eggshells attempt to shed light on arguably the most influential oil trader of our time... A flawed biography that reveals more about capitalist societies’ willful ignorance and ethical conundrums than the secret lives of its inscrutable subject."[6]A reviewer ofPublishers Weeklycommented "An empathetic look at the notorious Marc Rich, one of the most successful and controversial commodities traders in recent history and a key figure in the invention of the spot market... This meticulous account sets the record straight on a reluctant public figure who lost in the court of public opinion, but escaped being tried in a court of law."[7]
Film
[edit]The book is rumoured to be cinematized byUniversal PictureswithMatt Damonslated to portray the fugitive billionaire.John Krasinskiwill be a producer through hisSunday Night Productions.[12]
References
[edit]- ^MOUAWAD, JAD (October 15, 2009)."Book on Marc Rich Details His Iran Oil Deals".The New York Times.Retrieved5 July2017.
- ^DODDS FRANK, ALLAN (12 November 2009)."Marc Rich Spills His Secrets".Daily Beast.thedailybeast.com.Retrieved5 July2017.
- ^"'King Of Oil' Being Primed For Big Screen By BB Film Productions ".deadline.com.Retrieved5 July2017.
- ^Collins, Art (24 June 2010)."The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich".Futures.futuresmag.com.Retrieved5 July2017.
- ^Rothholz, Peter L."The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich by Daniel Ammann".Jewish Book Council.jewishbookcouncil.org.Retrieved5 July2017.
- ^ab"THE KING OF OIL The Secret Lives of Marc Rich by Daniel Ammann".Kirkus Reviews.kirkusreviews.com.Retrieved5 July2017.
- ^ab"The King of Oil: The Secret Lives of Marc Rich".Publishers Weekly.publishersweekly.com.Retrieved5 July2017.
- ^Top 50 Business Books
- ^DODDS FRANK, ALLAN (12 November 2009)."Marc Rich Spills His Secrets".Daily Beast.thedailybeast.com.Retrieved14 November2019.
- ^MOUAWAD, JAD (October 15, 2009)."Book on Marc Rich Details His Iran Oil Deals".The New York Times.Retrieved14 November2019.
- ^Le roi du pétrole sent le soufre
- ^McNary, Dave (2 July 2018)."Matt Damon to Star in Marc Rich Movie at Universal".Variety.Retrieved25 May2019.