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Biography & Autobiography. True Crime. Nonfiction. HTML: A biography that looks behind the headlines, and the gates of the house of Astor, as the 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.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. Updated with new material from inside the Brooke Astor TrialUSA Today"An even-handed and fascinating portrait of a wealthy family torn apart by money, jealousy, and emotional distance."�??"If the tabloids are your morning cup of tea, this is your book."�??New York Times Book Review… (more)
User reviews
While Mrs. Astor was extremely generous with the Astor Foundation money, giving money to not only the Metropolitan Museum of Art, but funding after school programs in less fortunate neighborhoods, she was not a particularly generous mother with her time and affection for her only child. Although her son had a number of different careers, the Marines, as an ambassador, working for the CIA, he never achieved the star power that his mother did and never felt that he was accepted by her.
This book is well researched, the author having spoken to all parties involved with the exception of Mrs. Astor. I felt at times I was reading the Social Register rather than the story of Brooke Astor. I would have liked more history of the Astor family than was given. In a time of economic crisis, it is instructive to read the history of a family that kept its wealth for over three centuries. Meryl Gordon’s writing is fairly fluid, but could have been much better if she had not explained each person’s social standing in such detail.
Meryl Gordon had extraordinary access to the principle players in this drama and she tells this tale with flair and remarkable fairness. Since this book was published Mrs. Astor's son has been convicted of looting her estate and has been sentenced to one to three years in prison. Given his state of health, he may very well end his life behind bars. One has to feel a little sorry for him. The same, however, cannot be said of his third wife, Charlene.
Her first marriage, at the young age of 19, to wealthy Dryden Kusher netted a son and a many beatings by
From that day forward, the regal, manipulative dame owned luxurious homes with her primary residence in a Park Avenue mansion in Upper East Side of New York. Well known for her philanthropic deeds, to name a few of her benefactors, she donated millions to the New York Library and the Metropolitan Art Museum. To give millions at a mere signature of a check, entitled her to be powerful and exceedingly popular.
Known for her over the top dinner parties, if you were invited, you were socially connected and had to know how to handle yourself among the upper echelon.
Never professing to like children, her only son soon learned that he was not loved. Waiting in the wings for mommy dearest to die took a much longer time than he imagined. Dying in 2007 at the ripe age of 105, son Anthony, 89, was promptly served with a law suit instigated by one of Anthony's twin sons who claimed his grandmother spent the end of her life in squalor while his grandfather swindled millions.
At the heart of the charges was the fact that sonny boy forced mamma to sign three codicils to her will, each one entitling him to ever increasing assets. The third signature was deemed fictitious by a stellar hand writing expert.
A favorite painting, Up The Avenue From 34th Street, by Clide Hassan which hung in her regal library, until it was sold by her son for 10 million, netting him a 2.5 commission. Originally promised to the Metropolitan Art Museum, Anthony convinced his mother that her millions were dwindling and this had to be sold in order to support her life style.
Knowing she suffered from Alzheimer's did not stop Anthony from brazenly pilfering millions upon millions. In court proceedings, Brooke's signature on the codicils became a pivotal focus. Years before, Anthony told others of Brooke's diminished capacity. How then, could she be of the right frame of mind to sign away millions willingly?
After a lengthy trial with a parade of rich and famous testifying, poor little rich boy Anthony was sent to prison. Walking in the court room with a Brooks Brothers well tailored suit, he walked out with hand cuffs and standard jail house garb.
While there were way too many pages of names and events that bogged down the main story, this is worth reading.
The book is completely engrossing. It's hard not to put it down. The details
This is a must read for any lover of New York high society.
Possibly the most depressing book review I've written yet. But true! Why was this ever on my TBR list?