In the tapestry of American financial history, few threads are as vivid or as dramatic as those woven by John Brooks in "Once in Golconda." With the finesse of a master storyteller, Brooks chronicles the riveting ascent and cataclysmic fall of Wall Street between the World Wars, painting a portrait so compelling it rivals the greatest tragedies of literature. Through the lens of the era's most iconic figures—traders, bankers, and frauds alike—Brooks captures the essence of the Roaring Twenties’ opulence, the shock of the 1929 crash, and the desolation of the Great Depression that followed. This is not just a book about financial history; it is a saga of human ambition, folly, and the relentless cycle of boom and bust. "Once in Golconda" transcends the mere recounting of historical events to explore the deeper narrative of human nature itself, set against the backdrop of financial euphoria and despair. Brooks delves into the tragic story of Richard Whitney, the embodiment of Wall Street’s zenith and nadir, whose journey from prestige to prison encapsulates the era’s excess and its consequences. With an elegance that is both rare and insightful, Brooks offers a tale that is as educational as it is gripping, making the past resonate with readers facing the financial uncertainties of their own time. This book is a timeless reminder of the hubris that precedes the fall, told with the grace and poignancy that only John Brooks can deliver.