Day They Shook the Plum Tree

by Arthur H. Lewis

Title The day they shook the plum tree Author Arthur H. Lewis Publisher Harcourt, Brace & World, 1963 Original from the University of Virginia Digitized May 5, 2008 Length 314 pages Subjects Fiction › General

Genres: Biography, History, Nonfiction

247 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1963

Reviews

[Therese · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the true story of the richest woman in the world (at her time) Hetty Green. She was called "The Witch of Wall Street." A shrewd, capable business woman, with one little quirk. She was awful in every way, and was known as the worst miser on earth. To the point she saw her own son's leg amputated for lack of medical attention, which she wouldn't pay for. She lived in rags in cold squalid apartments with her children, eating irregular graham crackers for meals. By the time of her death she was worth 17 billion (modern) dollars. The book continues on to tell the colorful life of her son, "The Colonel" Ned Green, who spent money like a gleeful child, buying houses where the staff stole and brawled, and yachts that made him seasick and farm tractors by the dozen to mow his lawn cuz they were "cheaper" that way. His life was spent seeking love and affection and happiness all denied him as a child. He was a little nuts. He dated the first woman he ever had sex with, a prostitute named Mabel, for forty years before marrying her. She kept him supplied with other whores, hangers ons, and his "protegees"...pretty young girls he lavished money and education on. His sister survived him, she had taken much after her mother and spent near nothing in her life, and left the Green fortune, the "plum tree" in the title, to many many different charities. This book should not be as forgotten as it is. It's very lighthearted, humorous, and accessible. And these characters...wow.

[Toni Wyatt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Story of how Hetty Green and her eccentric ways managed to amass a fortune of $100,000,000 in 1900. If you love stories of how people are able to achieve success when it most seems unlikely, you'll enjoy this fascinating read.

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I became interested in this book when I first visited the Antique Auto Museum in Princeton,MA many years ago. Hettie's car was on display. I was fascinated by seeing a car that was actually equipped with a toilet. The family was disfunctional at the very best. A good, quick read.

[Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at a family torn by the mother's obsession with making and keeping money. Some of the political references are also interesting- the aide for Ned Green admits bribery among other things.

[Paul Matheson · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I child I remember my grandparents talking about Hetty Green. This book provides details about Hetty and her children - esp Colonel Green (Ned) and to a lesser extent Sylvia.

Hetty was a miser - plain and simple. She learned about business from her father. As a Howland her family history in the new World can be traced back to Plymouth in 1624. She gathered her initial fortune from her mother, aunt and father by any means necessary - including (likely) fraud.She protected her fortune from all comers. Including her husband - Edward Henry Green. She grew the fortune through conservative investing. Always having plenty of cash and buying during panics. Additionally, she kept her expenses very low. Lastly, she moved frequently to avoid the tax collectors of her day. She hated attorneys and avoided paying them if possible. She was the richest woman in the world and sometimes called "

Her son Ned Green lost his leg at 20. Likely the result of his mother being too cheap to get better medical care. He briefly attendedSt John's College - now Fordham University. His mother sent him to Texas to run the Texas Midland railroad that she acquired. According to the book it was the happiest time in his life. He made many friends in Texas, met his wife Mabel (A prostitute that he married following the death of his mother), joined a number of fraternal organizations, sponsored scientific research, violated the social standards of the day and became active in Republican politics with his association with William Madison McDonald AKA "Gooseneck Bill". Additionally, he became a colonel through the governor of Texas.
After his mother's passing he became involved in collecting coins, stamps and female companions in addition to his wife. He rebuilt Roundhill in South Dartmouth. Saved the Morgan a boat that was part of the NewBEdford whaling fleet and owned by the Robinson family. He spent much time in Star Island FL leaving near mobster Al Capone.

Sylvia Green is the most tragic of the bunch. She seemed a quiet and kindly soul. With exception of her clear dislike of her sister in law Mabel. She married at 38 to a man 25 years her senior by the name of Mathew Astor Wilks. When Sylvia died in 1951 the fortune was sent far and wide by her will. Some went to distant family, some to schools and civic institutions. Since neither Ned or Sylvia had any children, It was the end of the Howland fortune.

[David Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing story of Hetty Green the richest woman in America and here children.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating story of a famous and famously dysfunctional family.

And easy read.

[Lila Marantz · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, informative and forgotten. Characters Hetty Green the wealthy miser, her spendthrift, prostitute consort son the "Colonel” light up the pages of this historical tome. Written in mid20th century, the author quotes contemporaries of Ned, Hetty and Sylvia Green. While Ned Green was at times a visionary, more often than not he was a hedonistic, self-indulgent political operative. His sister Sylvia was elusive and dowdy, married late and died childless. It is hard to enjoy the book because of the unsavory characters. The book does provide some interesting reading into the past decadence of our American society. These historical people transitioned from the Victorian to the Great Gatsby era of new riche and extravagance, with their massive fortunes intact. When they died there were no progeny to continue their legacy. The book is out of print, but worth a read. Licentiousness and cheapskates are around us in every time.

[Jill Zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really really ridiculously rich people are weird. Greed and wealth hoarding are unsustainable economic conditions for the global economy.

The story of Hetty Green and how she “couldn’t take it with her” when she died is kinda proof. The patterns are real—railroad robber barons, roaring 20s extreme wealth gap to post WW2 thriving middle class and back to today with an even higher income inequality gap than just prior to the Great Depression. This book can teach us a lot… if only the story was more popularly known.

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great book especially any one who is interested in finances or Stocks. Hetty Green was a very intersting woman, also dubbed "the wicked witch of wall street" She was a distant Relative of my husbands and that is why I was interested in the book but once I started reading I really became intersted in the history and her as a strong independent woman.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting book. Its does speculate some of the rumors of Hetty and The Colonel, but still adds a new look into a very rich woman that is almost unknown now. If you interested in the Greens then you need to check out the book written by Barbara Bedell about The Colonel. What a very interesting man. Being a local New Bedford resident I think its amazing history that needs to be known.

[Stephanie Al-Zubaidy · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom encouraged me to read this - it is not very easy to find, but truly fascinating. Hetty Green was quite a character, someone like no other - not necessarily in a good way.

[Tiffany Hulsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

On page 74 of 247, very interesting read! Very wordy with extended vocabulary.

[Randy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Great story. Shoddy writing.