Inside the GILDED AGE
STEP INTO THE WORLD OF THE SUPER-ELITE IN THERESE ANNE FOWLER’S NEW BOOK
Stories about the super-rich hold endless appeal – just look at the popularity of the movie Crazy Rich Asians. Well, this novel takes us into the world of one of America’s richest families at the height of their wealth. It’s set during what is known as the Gilded Age, the latter part of the 19th century, and focuses on the life of one woman, Alva Vanderbilt.
Alva was well-born, but her family had no money and was facing ruin when she pulled off a coup – marrying into the Vanderbilts, who had made their multi-millions from shipping and railroads. What they wanted from her was help in being accepted by snobby New York high society. Alva duly devoted herself to the task, building vast mansions and throwing extravagant balls to improve their social standing.
This makes Alva quite a difficult subject for a novel
– she was so hard-nosed, it could’ve been difficult to like her. But author Therese Anne Fowler has done a terrific job of finding reasons for us to warm to Alva.
We first meet her as a young woman, destitute and really struggling. She doesn’t love William Vanderbilt, but then love seems a frivolous emotion when you’re hungry and need to secure a better future for yourself and your sisters. The story takes us through the years of their marriage as Alva makes up for a lack of affection in her life by developing a passion for architecture. It shows us her social triumphs and her personal failures, and brings her alive as a formidable, intelligent woman who fought for what she believed in.
I was a bit disappointed with the ending – Alva’s contribution to women’s suffrage isn’t shown in such detail as the earlier parts of her life, which seems a pity. But otherwise I loved this re-imagining of a real story.
A Well-Behaved Woman is satisfyingly voyeuristic, giving you a taste of a life of excessive spending, while also bringing the era alive. You’ll definitely want to Google the Vanderbilts and their vast mansions the minute you have finished!