"Fool's Gold is the story of how a generation of Britons jumped, fell or were pushed off the edge of a decade because they believed they could become less poor, more secure, better off, wealthy or even seriously rich. It is the story of the individuals and institutions who made such a culture possible, and what happened when that culture began to go out of control." "Fool's Gold begins at the Department of Trade and Industry and ends in Ford Open Prison. It is a travel book through a recession and its aftermath. It goes behind the headlines of the business stories of the last decade, while avoiding the jargon of financial journalism. It is frank in its bafflement, sceptical in its sympathy and modest in even its most remarkable revelations. It discusses the role of businessmen such as Robert Maxwell and Roger Levitt and businesses such as Lloyd's of London and Barclays Bank; and it is the first book to link Adam Faith and John Major."--BOOK JACKET.