The Autobiography

Named after his uncle Evelyn Achille de Rothschild who was killed in action in World War I, Evelyn de Rothschild spent several of his boyhood years in the United States during World War II.

He studied economics at Cambridge University but, with no desire to go into the family's banking business, he dropped out before obtaining his degree.

Born into great wealth, Evelyn de Rothschild became one of England's most eligible bachelors, enjoying a youth spent traveling, socializing, driving exotic sportscars, enjoying thoroughbred horse racing and participating in the game of polo.

It wasn't until age twenty-six that he decided to join N M Rothschild & Sons banking house to be trained in the family's business.

In 1961 his father retired as head of the bank and cousin Victor Rothschild took over as Chairman.

In 1968, Evelyn de Rothschild was appointed a director of Paris-based de Rothschild Freres. In 1976 he took over as bank chairman from Victor Rothschild and in 1982 became chairman of Rothschilds Continuation Holdings AG, the co-ordinating company for the merchant banking group.

He became co-chairman of Rothschild Bank A.G.,Zurich in 1994, serving until 2003 when he oversaw the merger of the family's French and UK houses.

David Rene de Rothschild of the French branch took over as executive chairman of Rothschild International after the different branches had been merged and Sir Evelyn continued as non-executive chairman of N M Rothschild & Sons.

Evelyn de Rothschild also served as a Director of the newspaper group owned by Lord Beaverbrook. Years later, he served for a time as a Director of Lord Black's Daily Telegraph newspaper and was a member of the Hollinger International Advisory Board. An owner of thoroughbred racehorses, he is a former chairman of United Racecourses, which owns Epsom Downs and Sandown Park racecourses. His memoir sparkles with rich anecdotes and famous names.