Mrs. Astor Regrets

Author: Meryl Gordon
Genre: Biography
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009
Pages: 336
Rating: Recommend

Synopsis: "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." 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 gales of an American dynasty, laying bare three generations 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.

Review: I really enjoyed this. The very rich always make for very interesting reading.

The author successfully avoided taking sides, and stuck to the facts of Brooke Astor's life and her eventual decline. As for my own thoughts...While it's true Tony Marshall is not a likeable person, one has to remember is the product of his upbringing. I feel bad for all of them. Having an outrageous amount of wealth will never be a burden I have to bear :-)