This book has never been replaced as the definitive biography of this fabulous dynasty, and is a major source for the media. It tells of triumphs, tragedies, and scandals. The Astors became landlords of New York, established society's "400," and joined the British nobility. The Titanic drama of their lives is given a new perspective. Reviewers have called this book wonderfully entertaining, and a Horatio Alger story for the very adult reader.
Lucy Kavaler Books


The Secret Lives of the Edmonts
- 399 pages
- 14 hours of reading
A sophisticated novel about the excesses and lifestyle of the fabulously rich in 1895 New York and Newport. A scandalousnewspaper story creates a crisis for the unconventional heroine, forcing her to choose between her real estate tycoon husband, the British marquess who seduced her at 15, and the young lover, described in a tabloid as her "summer toy." The contrasts between rich and poor are stunning; she plans to ride a camel into her ballroom while a sweatshop burns and a mob invades the grounds of her mansion. Gives a picture of high society and high finance.