Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award:
The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt

Now in Paperback
"This is a mighty — and mighty confident — work, one that moves with force and conviction and imperious wit. . . . I read eagerly and avidly. This is state-of-the-art biography, crisper and more piquant than a 600-page book has any right to be."
—Dwight Garner, New York Times

"Monumental and outrageously entertaining. . . . The nearly 600 pages of text seem to fly through your hands."
—Allen Barra, Truthdig.com

"[A] superbly written and researched book worthy of its subject."
—The Economist

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Welcome to the online home of biographer T.J. Stiles, author of The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt and Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War, both in paperback from Vintage.

The First Tycoon won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Biography and the 2009 National Book Award for Nonfiction. It was named a New York Times Notable Book and one of the best books of the year by The New Yorker, Boston Globe, Christian Science Monitor, San Francisco Chronicle, Kansas City Star, and the Washington Post.

Jesse James won the Ambassador Book Award and the Peter Seaborg Award for Civil War Scholarship. It was named a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize in Biography and a New York Times Notable Book of the Year.

On this website, you can discover more information about T.J. Stiles, Cornelius Vanderbilt, and the writing of The First Tycoon. And you can still view extra features on Jesse James, including background information that does not appear in the book itself, as well as reviews and essays.

Go to the Media Center for audio and video files of interviews with T.J. Stiles.

What's on this site?
Use the menu bar to go to specific pages, which contain the features detailed below.

Reviews & Awards:
1) Read extended excerpts from selected reviews of The First Tycoon and Jesse James.
2) See a list of the prizes awarded to The First Tycoon and Jesse James.

Jesse James:
Read extended excerpts from primary sources on which Jesse James was based, and essays with information and interpretations not found in the book itself.

T.J. Stiles:
Read a detailed biography of author T.J. Stiles.

Public Talks:
Find out about upcoming events, see interviews with T.J. Stiles, and find out how to request an interview or author appearance.

First Tycoon:
Read about T.J. Stiles's new book: The First Tycoon: The Epic Life of Cornelius Vanderbilt, from Alfred A. Knopf.

Vanderblog:
More of an essays-and-resources page than a blog, the Vanderblog provides information and discussions related to The First Tycoon, including details not included in the book.