Customer Reviews

The Vanderbilt Women: Dynasty of Wealth, Glamour and Tragedy

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This is a must read for anyone interested in the Gilded Age. The Vanderbilts were a huge part of it, and the women of the family are as dynamic as the men, in spite of the Commodore's opinion of them. Included in the book are little known figures, such as the Commodore's much put-upon wife and daughters. I found this book hard to put down and highly recommend it, especially in the newly available paperback form.

I HAD NO IDEA HOW INDUSTRIOUS THESE WOMEN WERE. I LIVE NEAR THE BILTMORE AND THIS INSPIRED ME TO FOLLOW UP ON THE HISTORY OF THIS FAMILY. THE MEN ARE INTERESTING BUT THE WOMEN FANTASTIC. THEY DID IT ALL AND WERE A GUTSY BUNCH. I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN ANTICIPATING THE NEXT ROUND.

Though the men built the fortune, their women spent. They also took up social causes not always popular @ the time..... Their standing memoirals are the Mansions and gardens they created.

What a treasure of historic facts. This is not a scandle-rag interpretation of the Vanderbilts. The reader invests themselves into a serious review of the life and times of the Vanderbilt women. The style is feminist driven. Readers may find themselves confused, at times, about which family branch the author is discussing. The Vanderbilt woman are complicated and the author invests a great deal of print on each of the main women in this tale. She writes a serious historic novel done in a most entertaining manner for its modern readers. If you are interested in how high society emerged in America and where it traveled, Don't miss this novel.

A great read for anyone that is a history buff and a fan of the Gilded Age.