Paul Mellon recounts his privileged upbringing, the scandalous divorce of his parents, and his life of philanthropy, horse racing and breeding, and environmental activism. 35,000 first printing. $50,000 ad/promo.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Born in 1907 to the wealthy Pittsburgh, Pa., banking family, the author as a young man resisted his father's efforts to channel him into a business career, choosing instead to become a philanthropist. Written with art dealer Baskett ( The Horse in Art ) this chronological, somewhat prosaic account of Mellon's privileged existence is enlivened by a discussion of his parents' scandalous divorce in 1912, which eventually drove the son into therapy, first with C. G. Jung and later, more successfully, with a Freudian analyst. Mellon describes his chief passions--fox hunting, collecting impressionist art and horse racing--and discusses his involvement in the National Gallery and environmental causes. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Mellon has devoted himself and his inherited fortune to art, philanthropy, and horse breeding. This autobiography rambles through a long life and many acquaintances in a comfortable, if slightly disorganized, fashion. Unfortunately, neither Mellon's pastimes nor his great wealth are automatically interesting. In fact, it all seems rather dull by the end of the book. For those interested in the Mellon philanthropies, such as the National Gallery or the Yale Center for British Art, there is some detail of their founding operations that might prove useful. However, Mellon's psychoanalysis by the Jungian and Freudian analysts and his opinions of his friends are less than gripping. At the same time, the recounting of the supposed cause of his angst, the 1912 divorce of his parents, provides a fascinating picture of the world and mores of the rich before World War I. Recommended only for the most comprehensive collections in philanthropy or biography. (Illustrations not seen.)-- Mary Jane Ballou, Ford Fdn. Lib., New York
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
$$$$$,
By sweetmolly (RICHMOND, VA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Reflections in a Silver Spoon: A Memoir (Hardcover)
Yes, the very rich are different than you and I, and this entertaining memoir will prove it to you. This isn’t the type of book in which you can honestly say, “I can relate to that,” because every aspect of Mr. Mellon’s long life is so rarified, empathy is well nigh impossible.His childhood is unenviable. His father was a very formal, reserved man; and his mother – “impossible” is a good way to describe her. She was flagrantly unfaithful and had the maternal instincts of a turtle. She caused the senior Mr. Mellon agonies of grief with her not-so-polite blackmail by threatening him with scandal if she did not get her way. They were divorced (think of it---in 1912!) when Paul was six years old. Mr. Mellon insists it didn’t have much effect upon him as he was so young, but allows his older sister, Ailysa, bore the brunt of it and grew up to be a shy and reclusive woman. When Paul graduated from Yale and Clare College, Cambridge and put in an obligatory year in the Mellon banking institution; he announced to his father he was not cut out for banking. What he wanted to do was ---not much of anything in the way of employment. He collected art, racehorses, and became a philanthropist of the first order. The word “dilettante” never appears on these pages, but it did indeed cross my mind. This is not to say Mr. Mellon was idle or unsuccessful. He inherited his father’s business-like mind and made money with his art collections and racing stables. He spent his life doing exactly as he wished—somehow this seems vaguely un-American! Mr. Mellon relates at some length how distant and reserved his father was. I think he was truly unaware how distant and reserved he was himself. He was kind and had a closed circle of friends with similar interests (and money), but seemed to see the rest of humanity as his worker bees. His first wife died tragically young, but he matter-of-factly states he was not so sure the marriage would have lasted anyway. He praises his second wife, Bunny, highly, but she never comes to life; it’s as if he is admiring a monument. He had four separate residences (all fully staffed, including butlers). Mr. Mellon was bemused when people asked him if going back and forth between four homes wasn't a bit wearisome. He said he couldn’t understand their question because their main home in Upperville, VA has an airstrip. When he wants to move on to Antigua, he just steps out the back door and gets on the Gulf Airstream IV. Now what trouble is that? “Reflections In A Silver spoon” is a fascinating read, though there is a long section on his various directorships that was not of much interest to me. I was involved enough to check out what happened beyond the end of the book written in Mr. Mellon’s 85th year. He died in 1999 at the age of 91 at his home in Virginia. Though this book is out of print, it is easy to obtain used through the Amazon Marketplace.
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Gentlemanly Memoir,
By JAD (The Sunshine State) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Reflections in a Silver Spoon: A Memoir (Hardcover)
Paul Mellon did us all a favor by telling his life's story, since his father was at the center of American business and political life in the 1880s and through the 1930s. He gives us the rest of the story about Andrew, et al. Pittsburghers will find much to enjoy in this book. Even if you have never been to that fair city, chances are your life has been in some ways touched by the Mellon family, and their many interests, so why not give it a read? The Mellons were never eager for the limelight, so it is even more remarkable that Paul Mellon chose to share his reminiscences with the world at large. He takes us into the presence of some of the most influential people of the last century and shows us that, yes, they had their share of troubles, too. It's a gentlemanly memoir.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Life with Money,
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This review is from: Reflections in a Silver Spoon: A Memoir (Hardcover)
Reflections in a Silver Spoon is a honest autobiography about heir to the Mellon fortune. Surprisingly honest for a person so private, Paul Mellon expresses modesty, mixed with an occasional bit of self-doubt. Paul has the usual hint of arrogance, but with a life that begins rather traumatic, given his parents break-up, he seems to put together quite a life of positive life pursuits. An avid horseman, art collector, and philanthropist Paul seems to do fairly well with the dollars he inherits from his banker father, Andrew. He leaves a bit of his story out of the narration, but I'm guessing that is because he desires privacy for his wife and children. He is not as distant in his relationships as either his father or his grandfather.
The style weaves in and out a bit as Paul tells his story about life growing up in a broken household. He talks frankly about relationships with his parents, his first marriage, his Yale pals, his fairly uneventful part in the war, horses, and art. I skimmed the chapter on horses, but found the first part of the book interesting for his discussion on his father. This book lacks any discussion of business, which is definitely more of interest to me. Paul does discuss the philanthropic institutions he helped create and manage in great detail. This book is worth a read if you are at all interested in the life of an heir to a fortune, and a life of leisurely pursuits. I picked this up after reading both Cannadine's Mellon biography and the autobiography of Thomas Mellon. If you are mostly interested in business history and biography, I'd pass this book up (Thomas Mellon's autobiography is fantastic). Obviously talented in hiring great managers to handle his business affairs, Paul spends his life focusing on his hobbies and directing his philanthropy. As opposed to other scions of wealth, Paul is fairly successful as at all of his pursuits. Although he spends the money (several homes and a private Gulfstream), I get the impression he retained much more of his ancestor's business empire than some of the other grandchildren of the Gilded Age. He doesn't take himself too seriously, has a sense of humor, and sees no shame in his wealth. If you are interested in a book on family wealth, its impact on heirs, and are not averse to horses, philanthropy and its institutions, and/or art . . . this might be worth a read. That said, this is NOT a business biography.
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