Eric hombergers social history of new york is told through the lens of one of the most financially successful and socially powerful women, caroline schermerhorn astor. Astor house was a large mansion located on 840 fifth avenue, in the upper east side of manhattan, new york city, which stood roughly between 18931927. Andmajor fomothe list of invitees was printed in the new york times. Anthony marshall, age 84, the son of new yorks most beloved philanthropist, brooke astor, and a former ambassador, is under an 18count indictment, accused of. Kevin baker is the author of the historical novel paradise alley, about the civil war. Astor by her family and friends, she is responsible for assembling the famous four hundred social list of families accepted into new york society. This lively account of her life and the era over which she presided sheds new light on the origins and lifestyle of this aristocracy. Astor lived in the left side and john and his family lived in the right side, the ballroom at the rear. Astors courtier, mcallister set about molding and shaping upperclass new york society, determining who was in and who was out, what was correct and what was not, and those whom mrs astor would accept and those whom she would notbut he.
Caroline astors 1892 party featured the 400 hottest high society names. Its a loss for us as an organization because she was in so many ways one of the symbols of the library. When she vacated her home near what is now herald square, it became the second half of the waldorfastoria. Astor mansion at 65th street this massive mega mansion on 65th street fifth avenue was the new york city mansion of caroline astor and her son john, the richest man on the titanic. Astor, she was the wife of businessman, racehorse breederowner, and yachtsman. He does not pretend to have written anything new, but to have attempted to put what he has to say in as readable a form as possible. 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. Aug 17, 2007 what a classy lady brooke astor was, how fortunate new york city is to have been her home for 105 years. The book s real strength lies in its analysis of the postcivil war era, when a flood of new money forced new yorks more established. The astor double mansion on fifth avenue gilded age. New york journalist meryl gordon has interviewed not only the elite of brooke astors social circle, but also the large staff who cosseted and cared for mrs.
Unlike spoiled, selfish heiresses of later generations, she was obviously taught that responsibility is as much a part of privilege as self expression, and her life reflected the best of both aspects. Astors friends and the heads of new york s great cultural institutions, gives us back the woman so loved and admired. Aug, 2007 paul leclerc, the president of the new york public library, one of the major beneficiaries of mrs. Astor s new york deservedly will become the definitive work regarding the city of new york and, specifically, its upper class, during that period of the 19th century known as the gilded age. Astors life, showing how her upbringing, three marriages, leisure pursuits, and work as a writer and editor prepared her for her greatest act. Eric homberger, in anticipation of learning some new choice information about the period and the people who swirled across its stage. The citizens committee was eager to replicate the evening and celebrate 100 years of mrs. I was interested in reading about brooke astor, as i live in newport, home of the first mrs astor s summer home, and because my husband s first ship, the uss russell, named for her father, was brought to life by mrs astor with my husband present in the audience. Astors daughter to her famous ball an event all of society was anxious to attend, becuase she had not yet received notice from her social superior, mrs. Astors new york money and power in a gilded age 1st edition 2nd printing hardcover new haven yale university press 2002 near fine in. Born september 22, 1830 new york, new york died october 30, 1908 new york, new york socialite.
Astor regrets the hidden betrayals of a family beyond reproach by meryl gordon illustrated. For almost four decades, new york society then the worlds most rigid and exclusive was ruled by one woman, caroline schermerhorn astor, known throughout new york as the mrs astor. I have been reading a number of books lately about new york city during the gilded age. The lost john jacob astor mansion 840 fifth avenue. Astors most famous residence at 350 fifth avenue was a new york staple, but she would never have guessed the address significance today. Ward mcallister s patriarchs, considered to be the elite of new york society, and mrs. This biography, based on firsthand knowledge and interviews with mrs. Alva vanderbilt cleverly used the rules of etiquette to begin to overturn the social order in new york. O, the oprah magazine this biography, based on firsthand knowledge and interviews with mrs. Astors funloving personality does not reveal what these adventures were. Astors name was on the list of rescued he was overcome with joy. Ward mcallisters patriarchs, considered to be the elite of new york society, and mrs. As such, this book is as much about the evolution of the modern city as it is about the robber barons who shaped the era.
I went to brooke, and she semiagreed, recalls elliott. This mansion was really a double mansion divided in half, mrs. This history is a rare finda book of sophisticated scholarship that also makes for entertaining reading. This work serves as a guide to manners as well as an insight to mrs. Astor s nre york money and social power in a gilded age by eric homberger is a first editionfirst printing copy in like new condition. Blue bloods and grand hotels in a gilded age kaplan, justin on.
Caroline herself came from old new york society, an upper echelon formed of. Astor, undisputed queen of new york society in the decades before the first world war, used her prestige to create a social aristocracy of unparalleled extravagance and exclusivity. Please note the floor plans which have recently been discovered. Mrs astor s story, told here by eric homberger, sheds light on the origins, extravagant lifestyle, and social competitiveness of this aristocracy. Astors ballroom could hold 1,200 people after the mansion was completed mrs. Astors largess, told james barron of the times this afternoon. May 17, 2007 the book is, however, noticeably tactful and admiring, as the author herself says of the newspaper coverage for mrs. An immensely interesting tale, and homberger tells it well. Astors personal diary and address book, showing everything from the perfect table setting to the array of outfits the elite wore at. Caroline webster lina schermerhorn september 22, 1830 october 30, 1908 was a prominent american socialite of the second half of the 19th century who led the four hundred. The book is, however, noticeably tactful and admiring, as the author herself says of the newspaper coverage for mrs. Astors list of four hundred were the bread and butter of this eras snobbery. Her prestige was such that to be invited to mrs astors annual ball, invariably on the. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study.
Odors of acrid coal smoke, drizzling soot, and the screech. After a lengthy feud, her nextdoor neighbor and nephew, william astor, demolished the brownstone mansion erected by his father, john jacob astor iii, and began construction on the towering waldorf hotel. A former editor at the new yorker revisits the fabulous life of brooke astor, a pioneer of philanthropy and for decades a luminary of new york society. Apr 14, 2017 caroline astors 1892 party featured the 400 hottest high society names. I was interested in reading about brooke astor, as i live in newport, home of the first mrs astor s summer home, and because my husbands first ship, the uss russell, named for her father, was brought to life by mrs astor with my husband present in the audience. Astors ballroom had always been societys inner sanctum and her original ballrooms capacity had been the magic number of how many. Astors new york, one of the books we recommended during the mrs. Astor, undisputed queen of new york society in the decade. Astors friends and the heads of new yorks great cultural institutions, gives us back the woman so loved and. Her story, which reads like a novel by edith wharton, sheds important new light on the origins, lifestyle, and social competitiveness of this aristocracy. When she vacated her home near what is now herald square, it became the second half of the waldorfastoria, which was later torn down to build the empire state building.
Astors pet charity, the new york public library, had lost its only copy of footprints. Astor presided over, powered by great wealth and governed by a. Astor podcast, the following guidelines were outlined as to behavior during formal calls. In july of 2006, the story broke in the new york newspapers.
John jacob astor, remained up all night in hopes of getting news of his daughter and her husband. Astors new york goodreads meet your next favorite book. Those books patchwork child 1962 and footprints 1980 can be hard to find. He lost no time telling his wife and daughter of the escape of. Her prestige was such that to be invited to mrs astors annual ball, invariably on the third monday in january, was to be in society. The book defines the five new york neighborhoods known as the mrs. Astors ballroom at the astor double mansion on fifth avenue it could hold 1,200 people. Everything in the way of the history and habits of fish has been studiously avoided, and technicalities have been used as. Astors personal diary and address book, showing everything from the. So simple a matter as paying a morning call was hedged around with complications. Astors courtier, mcallister set about molding and shaping upperclass new york society, determining who was in and who was out, what was correct and what was not, and those whom mrs astor would accept and those whom she would notbut he was no match for the newlymarried alva vanderbilt.
It is not meant to be a personbyperson account of the astor family, virtually skipping the grand mrs. Astor, she was the wife of businessman, racehorse breederowner, and yachtsman william backhouse astor jr. Jun 17, 2007 those books patchwork child 1962 and footprints 1980 can be hard to find. Astor as she is only tangentially related to the plot, which is the change in america during the gilded age. Astor was more of a shadow queen and although caroline still held pride of place, society was mainly ruled by other such as. Astor s friends and the heads of new york s great cultural institutions, gives us back the woman so loved and. When the astors owned new york is a wonderfully concise version of a period in american history. A bleached, palid bio of nyc socialite, thrice married, brooke astor. Prior to the gilded age, the era of industrialization from the early 1860s to the turn of the century in which a few wealthy individuals gained tremendous power and influence, there was a limited number of very rich and privileged families in the united states. Astor s new york money and power in a gilded age 1st edition 2nd printing hardcover new haven yale university press 2002 near fine in a near fine dust jacket. Money and social power in a gilded age by homberger, eric and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Good books on the subject seem to be few and far between, therefore i was eager to have a look at mrs. America was the foremost nation of the world, and new york city was its beating. And an invitation to her annual ball was a golden ticket into the ranks of new yorks upper crust.
Mrs astor, queen of new york society in the decades before world war i, used her prestige to create a social aristocracy in the city. What a classy lady brooke astor was, how fortunate new york city is to have been her home for 105 years. The caroline astor home at 5th avenue and 65th street, new york, new york, circa 1929. The author of this very practical treatise on scotch loch fishing desires clearly that it may be of use to all who had it. The result is the behindtheheadlines story of the astor empires unraveling, filled with neverbeforereported scenes.
The result is the behindtheheadlines story of the astor empire s unraveling, filled with neverbeforereported scenes. The caroline astor home at avenue and street, new york, new york, circa built in it was the grandest mansion on avenue. This massive mega mansion on 65th street fifth avenue was the new york city mansion of caroline astor and her son john, the richest man on the titanic. At the age of 51, brooke astor wedded the notoriously illtempered vincent astor, who died in 1959.
Astors 14room duplex at rosario candelas 778 park avenue including the oftphotographed albert hadley library. Astor lived in the left side and john and his family. It was a brilliant move intended to show his aunt exactly who had the last word in the family fight. Astor, undisputed queen of new york society in the decades before the first world war, created a social aristocracy of unparalleled extravagance and exclusivity. Astor s friends and the heads of new york s great cultural institutions, gives us back the woman so loved and admired. The books real strength lies in its analysis of the postcivil war era, when a flood of new money forced new yorks more established. Astor continued to entertain as lavishly as she always had, opening the house with her annual patriarchs ball. The hidden betrayals of a family beyond reproach tells the story of the astors of new york, a storied philanthropist family. Sales offering as of june 2009 and nytimes article 6feb09.
Brooke astor, the doyenne of the manhattan social and philanthropic scene, 104 years old, was the subject of an embarrassing lawsuit. Kiernans sharpeyed biography brings back a woman who, far into her 90s, relished the dance of life. From being queen of new york society and one of her centurys great philanthropists, brooke astor became americas most prominent case of. July 24, 2006, is a redletter monday in the annals of. Hombergers the historical atlas of new york city descriptive account of aristocratic life. New york pays its final respects to brooke astor the new. Her story, which reads like a novel by edith wharton, sheds important new light on the origins, lifestyle, and social competitiveness of this aristocracy, and. Astor s list of four hundred were the bread and butter of this era s snobbery. Astor, where she held court for new york societys,400.
The fight for a mothers love, and money, new york magazine, november 12, 2007. Inside the book, there are no torn, loose or missing pages and no writing. The book includes a discussion of social climbing, which included rituals such as calling and attending balls. The ballroom could hold 1200 guests, and doubled as an art gallery.
Famous for being referred to later in life as the mrs. The books real strength lies in its analysis of the postcivil war era, when a flood of new money forced new yorks more established families to. The indomitable caroline webster schermerhorn astor, the mrs. Following her severe nervous breakdown in 1906 mrs. Astors friends and the heads of new yorks great cultural institutions, gives us back the woman so loved and admired.