As much an American success story as a story about America itself, the saga of Fred Harvey told here, in-depth, for the first time ever--is a captivating tale of a man whose life, entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, hard work, and resilience have become the stuff of legend. He and his family business left an indelible mark on our nation's culture and history; to a surprising degree, we still live in an America of Fred Harvey's making. But just who was Fred Harvey? To answer that question, award-winning journalist Stephen Fried has recreated a life that reads like a Horatio Alger rags-to-riches story. He also brings a fresh eye to America's expansion into the wild west of Bat Masterson and Billy the Kid--the great days of the railroads, a time when a deal could still be made with a handshake and follows the country and the company as they grew up together. Description from book jacket. 2010, 544 pages.