The Vanderbilts [Hardcover]

Jerry E. Patterson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1989

Nearly 250 pictures reveal the striking personalities of this extraordinary family and the glittering interiors in which they led their fabled lives.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Those fond of the smell of money will adore this book, crammed with photographs of Persian rugs, crystal chandeliers, a never-ending train of evening dress and sprawling grounds of New England castles. In chronicling the rise of the Vanderbilts, Patterson ( Living It Up ) traces the ever-interesting story of American-style getting and spending. As devotees of Edith Wharton--and others practiced at distinguishing "old" from merely "big" money--may be surprised to learn, the first "van der Bilt" of record was a resident, ca. 1650, in Flatbush, N.Y. The family never had much money until, in the 19th century, Cornelius parlayed a $100 investment into America's greatest fortune. Railroads entered Vanderbilt holdings relatively late: Cornelius, the man whose statue scowls over Manhattan's Grand Central Station, had no use for the locomotive until, in his old age, a son showed him he could turn a profit with railroads.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

America's "most social" family figures highly in a number of recent publications, including Arthur T. Vanderbilt's Fortune's Children ( LJ 7/89) and Robert B. King's The Vanderbilt Homes ( LJ 9/15/89). Definitely aimed at a popular audience, this volume covers the family's humble origins on Staten Island, "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt's (1794-1877) accumulation of great wealth via ships and railroads, the social and artistic aspirations and accomplishments of succeeding generations, and the monuments integrally tied to the family, including Grand Central Station, The Breakers, Biltmore, and the old Metropolitan Opera House. This slightly spicy chronicle is illustrated by likenesses of notable family members and lush color photographs representing the family's taste in art, architecture, interior design, and jewelry. Handy aids include the genealogical charts that introduce all chapters and a map of Vanderbilt and related buildings in Manhattan. Fun, but very light, reading.
- Kathleen Eagen Johnson, Historic Hudson Valley, Tarrytown, N.Y.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 304 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams; 1St Edition edition (September 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810917483
• ISBN-13: 978-0810917484
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 9 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #350,541 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

56 of 57 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendour Aplenty!, November 3, 2000

By 

Mary E. Layton (North Carolina, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Vanderbilts (Hardcover)

This book serves a myriad of purposes. If you are interested in turn of the century architecture, this book is for you. If you are interested in the social mores of the day, this book is for you. If you are interested in the Vanderbilt familiy in particular, and America's aristocracy in general, this book is for you. With hundreds of wonderful photos and illustrations, and an objective account of the history of one of America's richest families, "The Vanderbilts" takes the reader back to an era of nonchalant decadence. A time when prosperity was the plaything of the gods, and the gods were called Vanderbilt, and were lead by "The Commodore". America today is enriched by the spoils of their success, boasting some of the best in arcitecture and art collections. The family who gave us Grand Central Station, The Metropolitan Opera, and a good deal of the exhibited contents of the Met Museum also provide us with a fascinating tale of the rise and reign (and stumbles and pratfalls along the way) of American royalty.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vanderbuilding with the Vanderbilts, April 27, 2002

By 

"waterstn" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Vanderbilts (Hardcover)

If you are a fan of the Vanderbilts or of the Gilded Era, this book is a must. I have to admitt that I own lots of coffee table books. Usually, I just look at the pictures, read the captions, but never a word of the text. This book caught my attention from the start. It's a wonderful history of the Vanderbilt family, although not too heavily involved. I found that the family tree charts were loads of help while reading the book ... with such a large family it would be easy to forget who's who.
The pictures are exquisite, they bring the Vanderbilts and their fabulous homes to life. There are 291 illustrations, 92 of them are in full color.
I bought this book on a visit to George Vanderbilt's Biltmore Estate in the mountains of North Carolina. If you live any where near the area, I highly recommend a visit. The house, gardens and winery are out of this world!

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars First Family of the Gilded Age, November 25, 2005

By 

Shannon Deason (Houston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Vanderbilts (Hardcover)

This book is wonderful, I really could not put it down. The pictures are exquisite and the text is highly informative. The Vanderbilts may have not always been happy, but by God they did enjoy their money. Unlike many of the Gilded Age American aristocrats, like the Rockefeller's and Carnegie, the Vanderbilts where not ashamed of their money and they wanted to show it off...granted they do not have the lofty philanthropic legacy of the Rockefeller's or Andrew Carnegie, but they did give us wonderful estates and a taste of what it was like to be fabulously wealthy at this amazing time, they lived like French nobility before the Revolution, and to this day when you list the ten greatest American mansions, you can bet that the Vanderbilts will be well represented. This book captures all of this and more...if you have any interest in this Age or this family or quite frankly interesting people and good writing then you will enjoy this book, it really is a five star book.