Product Description
Inspired by the Dutch traders in the Caribbean and the exploits of buccaneers and pirates, the young Scottish merchant William Paterson envisaged a new era of world commerce - free trade on the open seas unencumbered by the monopoly trading that, in his view, restricted progress. A bold vision that created powerful enemies for Paterson amongst those who desperately wanted to cling on to the status quo. But he firmly believed in his ideas and during his travels at the end of the 17th century he found what he was looking for. Something that would turn his dream into reality. The "keys to the universe" he called it - the possession and control of the narrow Isthmus of Panama and the establishment of a trading port at Darien. In Paterson's mind, these keys opened the door to a better and more peaceful world. Noble and forward-thinking sentiments today. But at the tail-end of the 17th century, when he embarked on his incredible scheme, they were nothing short of visionary. "The Man Who Saw the Future" charts the story of Paterson's ambitions and the development of his business ideas.
About the Author
Andy Forrester is a trained historian, TV journalist and producer and business author. He was born and educated in Scotland and after leaving university became involved in setting the history questions for the Scottish Exam Board. At the age of 25 he stood as Labour candidate against the new Prime Minister, Sir Alec Douglas Home. He didn't win. Andy then moved into television, initially as a journalist and then as an historical documentary producer, first with London Weekend Television and then as a freelancer. The programs he has made include Starting Out for LWT which was a critical history of English education, 9 to 5 for BBC2 on the future of work, The Zircon Affair for BBC2 which was a study of the BBC in action, and Breaking the Sound Barrier - a program in the Channel 4 Secret History series. Several of his programs have won awards, such as Winning - a guide to making a success of business for BBC1 (winner of a Television Society Award for Best Adult Education and Training Programme), Get Better or Get Beaten for BBC2 (winner of the Texaco Award for TV Industrial Journalist of the Year), Sid's Heroes for BBC1 (winner of the RTS Award for best training program) and The Dying Rooms on the treatment of children in Chinese orphanages (winner of the RTS Award, the Press Guild Award and the Indie Award). While writing Keys to the Universe he is also researching a number of new TV documentaries. He lives in London with his wife.
