New in paperback. Hardcover was published in 2023. In this book, Guido Alfani offers a history of the rich and super-rich in the West, examining who they were, how they accumulated their wealth and what role they played in society. "In this masterly book, [Alfani] offers an insightful long-run perspective and fascinating lessons for the future. A must-read!" - Thomas Piketty, author of Capital in the Twenty-First Century.