The tiny island of Bermuda is now a financial powerhouse, having joined London and New York as one of three global leaders in the fields of insurance and reinsurance. What was once a small, conservative, isolated insurance community has transformed itself into a provider of worldwide services and a facility for the development of new responses to the challenges that we all face as we enter the 21st century.
This book tells, at length and in detail, and for the first time with a comprehensive sweep of narrative, just how all that came about. It is a tale well worth telling, one of vision, courage, integrity and good faith, and of a caring, communal and collaborative effort, such as is rare in the annals of commerce.
Far from being a dry compendium of facts and figures, this is an epic of remarkable characters, striving together to achieve unique successes, often against great odds. At the same time it is an outstanding work of research scholarship, which presents a vast array of primary and secondary materials never assembled together before.
It is organized on a time line, from the beginnings of insurance activity, as early as the 1700s, right on up to the present day. Fifty chapters, grouped in six parts, follow the history decade by decade and year by year, in ever increasing detail. Much of it is told in the actual words of those who lived it. The book ends with an epilogue entitled Quo Fata Ferunt, the motto of Bermuda, which means, “Wherever the fates may lead us,” or equally, “Whatever may befall.” That motto expresses the generosity of spirit which made Bermuda possible. It expresses the audacity that must sustain the risk takers of insurance. It offers inspiration and reassurance in a time of turbulent change.
The book is more than 500 pages long, is a full 8 1 /2 ” by 11” in size, is hardbound, gilt stamped, and with a full colour jacket as shown here. The text is liberally illustrated with archival photographs. There is a full bibliography and index. All elements of the production have been entrusted to experts and completed to the highest professional standards. The result is a superbly handsome volume, such as will grace any bookshelf and will also make a much appreciated corporate gift.
Catherine Duffy, the author of this remarkable history, is herself a veteran of the insurance industry and is one of Bermuda’s most respected authorities on the subject. In all of her research and writing she has enjoyed the most open, ongoing, active support, personal participation, and enthusiastic encouragement, of many leaders in the industry, who think her work to be of outstanding importance.
