Six Days in October: The Stock Market Crash of 1929
Over six days in October 1929, the fabulous fortune that Americans had built in stocks plunged with a fervor never seen before. At first, the drop seemed like a mistake, a mere glitch in the system. But as the decline gathered steam, so did the destruction. Over twenty-five billion dollars in individual wealth vanished.
Here, Wall Street Journal bureau chief Karen Blumenthal chronicles the six-day period that brought the country to its knees, from fascinating tales of key stock-market players, to riveting accounts of the power struggles between Wall Street and Washington, to poignant stories from those who lost their livelihoods to the allure of stocks and the power of greed.
For readers living in an era of stock-market fascination, this engrossing account explains stock-market fundamentals while bringing to life the darkest days of the mammoth crash of 1929.
- About the author: As a long-time journalist, Karen wrote nonfiction for young people with the belief that nonfiction brings context to a complicated world. A particular fascination of hers was social change, how it happens and why.