The Plungers and the Peacocks is an entertaining portrait of the personalities and corporate battles of Wall Street, the most famous financial district in the world. Using interviews with old-timers who lived through the events of the Street from the 1920s to the 40s and memoirs, and letters, the author has produced a sweeping narrative of the games people played in establishing America's financial center. Dana L. Thomas recounts a roller-coaster ride of excitement and intrigue, from the slave auctions of Captain Kidd to the battle by Robert Young to gain control of the New York Central Railroad.