Matthew Josephson

Matthew Josephson was an influential American historian, biographer, and journalist known for his critical examinations of 19th-century French literature and American economic history. He popularized the term 'robber baron' in his best-selling 1934 book 'The Robber Barons,' which depicted prominent entrepreneurs as self-serving figures prioritizing personal gain over national economic growth. Josephson also authored biographies of notable figures such as Emile Zola, Victor Hugo, and Thomas Edison, and was a key figure in introducing Dadaist and Surrealist movements to American audiences.