A Full Cup: Sir Thomas Lipton's Extraordinary Life and His Quest for the America's Cup

by Michael D'Antonio

Overview

Today Lipton means tea. However, in his time Sir Thomas Lipton was known for much more than the Lipton tea empire. Raised in desperate poverty, he would build a global empire of markets, factories, plantations, and stockyards. But his epic pursuit of the America’s Cup—a yachting trophy and the ultimate in international sport—made him a beloved figure on both sides of the Atlantic.

More than a story of innovation and achievement, A Full Cup also explores Lipton’s most intriguing creation: his public persona, formed by a burgeoning mass media and a shameless self-promotion that made him one of the most recognizable figures of his time. Michael D’Antonio brings to life the surprising careers of this intrepid sailor, gregarious showman, and ingenious self-made millionaire—the world’s very first celebrity CEO.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781594485213
Publisher:	Penguin Publishing Group
Publication date:	07/05/2011
Pages:	416
Sales rank:	476,639
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 1.20(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Michael D'Antonio is the author of many acclaimed books, including Atomic Harvest, Tin Cup Dreams, Mosquito, The State Boys Rebellion, Hershey, and Forever Blue. His work has appeared in Esquire, The New York Times Magazine, the Los Angeles Times Magazine, Discover, and other publications. Among his many awards is the Pulitzer Prize, which he shared with a team of reporters for Newsday.

Table of Contents

1 Glasgow 1

2 America 13

3 Homecoming 37

4 P. T. Lipton 59

5 The Big Cheese 77

6 Tea Tom 101

7 Astride the World 129

8 A Real Shamrock 155

9 Never Fear! 189

10 Celebrity 227

11 Injured by a Tea Rose 257

12 Lots of Nerve, Lots of Cash 287

13 Sir Thomas Wins 319

Postscript 347

Acknowledgments 351

Sources 353

Index 371

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"D'Antonio is to be commended for capturing [Lipton] so thoroughly." —-Publishers Weekly

Editorial Reviews

A captivating book.”—The Wall Street Journal

“[A] TRIUMPH… A Full Cup tells the story in a breathless style that will keep most readers racing through D'Antonio's account of this extraordinary character. A thrilling story you won't be able to put down.” – Connecticut Post

“A BRACING BIOGRAPHY of the man who can be called the original Richard Branson…an innovative businessman, philanthropically minded, and well-liked from the slums of New York to the palaces of Europe, all of which D’Antonio captures with aplomb” —The Daily Beast

“A Full Cup celebrates a remarkable man: a great philanthropist and entrepreneurial tradesman, blessed with style, flair and, most of all, great spirit.”—Washington Times

From the Publisher

Lipton, the world's first millionaire sportsman, revolutionized the world of tea before sinking millions of dollars into a thwarted quest to win the America's Cup for England. D'Antonio excels at capturing the excitement of the races, and the good sportsmanship that endeared Lipton to America and England both. Lipton seems to have vanished into history, and D'Antonio is to be commended for capturing him so thoroughly but the author falls short in effectively exploring two intriguing, and important, aspects of Lipton's life: His long residence with another man, and his support for Irish independence (while maintaining close ties with English royalty). While D'Antonio does point out that "if Lipton had relationships with men, indiscretion would inevitably mean the loss of his reputation, his business and possibly his freedom," he leaves it at that, suggesting a choice to avoid less savory aspects of Lipton's life and giving the impression that the author is treading water. D'Antonio deserves praise for bringing Lipton's remarkable life to our attention, even if we end up wishing he'd probed further. Photos.
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