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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
informative
slow-paced
A kind of rags-to-riches-to-rags story, this book covers not just the people in the Vanderbilt family, but their homes as well. If that sounds boring, you've never been to Biltmore. Their extravagance in building and furnishing their homes was extraordinary and a large reason for their tumbling off the world's list of wealthiest people. It is a fascinating account of some of the most interesting family members from the Commodore himself to fashion designer Gloria. Gets a tad confusing since there are several Corneliuses, a couple of Alices, and two Glorias, who also happened to mother and daughter. At least the second two Cornelius Vanderbilts had nicknames. But a well-researched book offering scads of trivia and interesting details of lives from the Gilded Age and beyond.
Absolutely fascinating biography. I started this before heading to Newport, RI so that I'd have a contextual understanding of Gilded Age that made Newport so famous. Touring the mansions, it felt like I had like an inside scoop on the history of the families and some of the events that transpired there. For example, I couldn't wait to see Consuelo's bedroom where I knew she had been imprisoned by her mother before her forced marriage to the duke. This information was not shared in the tour, but I knew it, so I had a deeper experience standing on the very floor where that poor girl suffered for an entire summer than my husband had who only knew what was presented by the guided tour. The book is like watching a soap opera but knowing that the people and stories are real. I recommend this to anyone who plans to visit Newport, especially! Even though the book is hefty, I wouldn't have minded another 500 pages.
I loved this book. Loved seeing the rise and then the fall of the dynasty. It is so strange because old (then new) money like Rockefellers talked about in the news but the Vanderbilts have been almost phased out. I was wondering what happened to Reggie's other daughter because she did inherit money so she must still have some of it if she is alive like Gloria is. I loved reading about all the different family members in their own sections and their separate personalities. I see this book in so many bibliographies. This was well-cited, well written, and engaging. I highly recommend this to anyone interested in the era, rich people, or family stories. They all seem so dysfunctional except for the Commodore and William.