Armand Hammer: The Untold Story

First edition, first impression.  x, 5012pp, with a central section of monochrome plate illustrations.  Black cloth-covered boards with gilt stamped lettering on the spine.  8vo.  Cloth a little worn, gently pushed in at spine ends.  A little dustiness to text block edges.  Internally neat, clean and tight.  In its original dust jacket, price clipped, shelf worn and lightly marked, and a little rubbed on edges.  

American-born Armand Hammer (1898-1990) began his career in the Soviet Union, where he wangled his way to a meeting with Lenin: he used the platform Lenin gave him to build a business empire which included Occidental Petroleum, art collections, mines, breweries, factories, cattle herds and radio stations.  Intimate with leaders the world over, he survived years of FBI surveillance and others who suspected him of being a stooge for the communist leadership.  This full biography reveals the man and his motives for growing businesses and making trade deals.