Customer Reviews

A Season of Splendor: The Court of Mrs. Astor in Gilded Age New York

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As the other review states, this book doesn't contain any new scholarship, however, King does an excellent and thorough job of recreating the period of American and New York history between the years 1880 and 1914. For those who have only a passing familiarity with the names Astor, Vanderbilt or Belmont, the fiction of Edith Wharton, and America's 19th century aristocracy, A SEASON OF SPLENDOR is a great starting place for research. Once you've consumed the bevy of names, fortunes and scandals this book entails, the bibliography is an even greater resource, since most of the books listed are available in your local library--though you may feel sated by King's unerring eye for detail. I highly recommend this book, as well as King's other works of social history.

Overall this book provides an excellent summary of the Gilded Age in America, from its inception coinciding with the end of the Civil War and birth of the Industrial Revolution, through to its twilight years, corresponding with the sinking of the Titanic. The book focuses heavily on the wealthy residents of New York City (particularly the Astor and Vanderbilt families) and the world they inhabited.

While not encyclopedic (e.g., there's hardly any discussion about how the Gilded Age played out in areas outside of NYC), the author does a fantastic job of pulling together previously-published accounts of the Gilded Age together with a good deal of newer, more detailed facts and anecdotes to enhance the overall story. The chapters are relatively short which makes this thick book very approachable, while the very detailed bibliography and corresponding references accompanying each chapter are highly useful for those seeking additional detail, and give the book an almost textbook-like feel.

Additionally, the author factors in some insightful social-history commentary on the ramifications of all this excess (e.g., public outcry, institution of the Federal Income Tax). The parallels to the world we live in today (2008) are also interesting food for thought.

My only criticisms are (i) at times the descriptions are overly exhaustive and (ii) although there are a few black & white photographs, IMO the stories would have been significantly enhanced by color photos depicting some of the opulence the author goes to great pains to describe. Nonetheless, this is a five-star read.

As others have said, it's a well written book with plenty of useful and interesting information. However, there is a noticeable lack of photos and pictures which can make wading through long written descriptions somewhat tedious. This is especially so in chapters that scream out for illustrations, eg, Jewelry.

A fascinating review of what can be done in a world of no income tax. Should it be done is another question !A history of how the other "half" used to live, and the effort to maintain an artificial world.

Because New York City's Gilded Age is one of my favorite interests, I wanted to add this book to my collection. I enjoyed reading it; however, I agree with the previous reviewers. It is an excellent source for those who are being introduced to this period. It is extremely detailed. However, I found myself skimming over many of the chapters such as "Clothing", "Jewelry" and "Transportation". They do contain a wealth of minutiae. For fans of the Gilded Age who have read much about it and are unsure whether they want to add another book to their collection, I would advise them not to buy it. My only disappointment with the book was that it did not contain more pictures from the period. Nonetheless, I am glad I bought it.

This book goes way beyond the Astors; it transports the reader to Old New York, where the Gilded Age families come to life in all their scandal and splendor! I loved it!!

This interesting read tells of a time around the early 1900's when New York was becoming the glittering social mecca of America. New York was the very center of finance, business, and culture. Caroline Astor used her family's name and her husband's millions to help forge the Gilded Age society.

Very discriptive of the era. A view into the world of yesteryear. great that it has Dollar comparisons to today's value of the money spent in this era. Amazing!

Interesting to learn about the period and very well written but way too detailed and plodding. Obviously it was laborious for my book club members who liked what they had read so far but I was the only one who finished it in time.