A chance find during my last visit to the Swiss National Museum in Zurich, this is the author's extension of a magazine article about the same topic. The Auf der Maur family from Schwyz is one among a few patrician Swiss families whose business it was to rent out regiments to foreign kings and princes. The Auf der Maur family started early in the business. Already in the 15th century, one finds them renting out the skin of their countrymen to the Italian and French potentates. Economically unprofitable and politically illegal, the Auf der Maur family business ceased to exist after the mid-19th century. Cut-off from their source of wealth, the former patrician family saw the family's influence disappear. The author's tale of the selling off of the family private island has a distinct Last of the Mohicans flair.

Unfortunately, the author does not venture as deep as I liked into family history. I would have loved to learn more about the adventures of the different Auf der Maur generations. The limited number of pages lets this booklet remain too close to the original magazine article. I wish the author would have written a true family history. On the plus side, the book features excellent pictorial support and appendices with much valuable information. ( )