Vanderbilt

More about the book

New York Times bestselling author and journalist Anderson Cooper collaborates with historian and novelist Katherine Howe to chronicle the rise and fall of the legendary Vanderbilt family. Beginning with eleven-year-old Cornelius Vanderbilt, who worked on his father's small boat in New York Harbor, the narrative unfolds to reveal how his ruthless ambition and cunning led him to create two empires in shipping and railroads, making him the richest man in America. Following his death in 1877, his staggering fortune sparked fierce competition among his heirs, leading to familial discord that never fully healed. Although his son Billy doubled the family wealth, subsequent generations sought ever more extravagant ways to spend it. By 2018, the last Vanderbilt was forced out of The Breakers, the opulent summer estate built by Cornelius's grandson, marking a stark transformation from the family’s origins. Cooper and Howe delve into the lives of the ancestors who shaped this dynasty, exploring their lavish lifestyles and the family's significant impact on American capitalism and high society. From the gritty wharves of old Manhattan to the grand drawing rooms of Gilded Age Fifth Avenue, the authors recount the triumphs and tragedies of an unparalleled American dynasty, offering a unique insider's perspective on a history as remarkable as the family itself.