In A Conspiracy of Paper, David Liss weaves a complex tapestry of London life in 1719.  History and culture of the time swirls around a central mystery:  who caused the death of Benjamin Weaverâs 'stockjobber' father, and why was he killed. 

Pursuit of this answer takes the reader through a meticulously researched historical drama in which four main themes emerge.  The are illuminated in the exploits of Benjamin Weaver; a self-described 'protector, bailiff, constable-for-hire and Thief Taker' -- duties that require former highwayman Weaver to be part private detective, part street fighter, and part bounty hunter for the Crown.  His work leads him into the corrupt legal and financial systems of the time, and the ruthless opportunists who benefit from them.

A concurrent theme is the violent anti-Semitism and xenophobia of 18^th century Britain.  Weaverâs relatives are Spanish Jews who, like others, have come to England via Amsterdam as traders and bankers.  They exist beneath the double threat of a barely tolerated 'foreigner' legal status and the widespread contempt and mistrust of Jews by the English population.  The Jewish communityâs infamy is only exacerbated by the emergence of the New Finance:  tangible wealth such as precious metals, stones and land are being replaced with 'promissory wealth' such as stock shares and bank notes.  Because the Christian faith forbade 'usury,' many financiers and lenders were Jewish.

This revolutionary way for the Bank of England to fund current war with France with Pounds to be paid later proved widely popular, however suspect.  The new trade of 'stock-jobbing' was also prey to speculators, forgery, and outright fraud by powerful and politically connected venture capitalists.  These 'Gentlemen' encouraged a gullible public into pouring money into worthless investments.  The shady machinations of 'Change Alley' reach from the South Sea Company to the House of Lords, and include members of Weaverâs family; most notably, his father.

Any one of the many facets of 1719 London life portrayed in A Conspiracy of Paper could provide a fascinating subject of a book by itself.  The breadth of the book becomes its most serious flaw.  So multi-layered and complex, one only gets a glimpse of the context in the events and scenes described.  The reader is left with the same longing that one gets from looking at a great classical canvas through the tiniest crack in a door.  Instead of immersing oneself in a literary and historical feast, one is rushed forward by the plot toward the resolution of the mystery.  The result is a surprising lack of depth in the main character, Benjamin Weaver, whose personal goals and troubles almost get lost in the great turnings of the world around him.

Despite the bookâs scope and density, A Conspiracy of Paper should be a delight for all those who seek to find analogies for our present day society and business mentality in the exploration of their 18^th century ancestry.

Cynthia Foos is an attorney who has lived in Mason City for six years. Having taught courses in Business Law, she was drawn to the themes presented in this book.