A riveting look behind the gates of the house of Astor as
a famous family falls apart in public
The fate of
Brooke Astor, the endearing philanthropist with the
storied name, has generated worldwide headlines since her
grandson Philip sued his father in 2006, alleging
mistreatment of Brooke. And shortly after her death in
2007, Anthony Marshall, Mrs. Astor's only child, was
indicted on charges of looting her estate. Rarely has
there been a story with such an appealing heroine,
conjuring up a world so nearly forgotten: a realm of
lavish wealth and secrets of the sort that have engaged
Americans from the era of Edith Wharton to the
more recent days of Truman Capote and Vanity
Fair.
New York journalist Meryl Gordon has
interviewed not only the elite of Brooke Astor's social
circle but also the large staff who cosseted and cared
for Mrs. Astor during her declining years. The result is
the behind-the-headlines story of the Astor empire's
unraveling, filled with never-before-reported scenes.
This powerful, poignant saga takes the reader inside the
gilded gates of an American dynasty to tell of
three generations' worth of longing and missed
opportunities. Even in this territory of privilege, no
riches can put things right once they've been torn
asunder. Here is an American epic of the bonds of money,
morality, and social position.
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