Sir James Goldsmith was one of the most intriguing figures of the twentieth century but as a billionaire with a taste for litigation he successfully ensured that, for much of his life, his background, methods and ambitions escaped far-reaching investigation. This is the first unauthorised biography of Goldsmith and it deals with every aspect of his complex life.

This is a book for anyone interested in how great fortunes are built, the future of Europe, the ongoing controversy over environmental issues and – of course – how a charismatic man can juggle a succession of wives and mistresses.

Has he equipped his children to exploit the fortune he has left to build a vast business empire or has he condemned them to gilded obscurity? Goldsmith tells the incredible story of an extraordinary man and the legacy he has left his family and the world.