Birthright

Deborah de Kronenegold grows up in London surrounded by luxury, with a family estate in the country and a world of privilege around her. Her grandfather Samuel, an empire builder, admires her beauty and sharp mind, and she seems to have everything. That changes when she learns she was adopted and realizes her father, Leslie, resents her. After Samuel and her mother, Madeleine, die, the will that would have made Deborah Samuel's main heir vanishes, and Leslie takes steps that cast her out for good. With only her determination to claim what is hers, she goes to New York to build a financial empire that can rival her father's and, eventually, bring him down.

The novel also follows several romances. Bash is Deborah's first love, but his heritage places barriers between them. David offers her wealth, stability and devotion, though the cost of accepting is steep. A separate love affair, set in Italy during the war, uncovers the truth about Deborah's birthright.

The story moves through the boardrooms of London, Paris and New York, along with townhouses, chateaux and penthouses, and it reaches Italy and modern Israel. Set against the glamour of international finance, it is a sweeping family saga that keeps the reader engaged until its unexpected ending. This edition is out of print; a newer version is available.