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Biography & Autobiography. History. Judaica. Nonfiction. HTML: In The Women of Rothschild, Natalie Livingstone reveals the role of women in shaping the legacy of the famous Rothschild dynasty, synonymous with wealth and power.From the East End of London to the Eastern seaboard of the United States, from Spitalfields to Scottish castles, from Bletchley Park to Buchenwald, and from the Vatican to Palestine, Natalie Livingstone follows the extraordinary lives of the Rothschild women from the dawn of the nineteenth century to the early years of the twenty-first. As Jews in a Christian society and women in a deeply patriarchal family, they were outsiders. Excluded from the family bank, they forged their own distinct dynasty of daughters and nieces, mothers and aunts. They became influential hostesses and talented diplomats, choreographing electoral campaigns, advising prime ministers, advocating for social reform, and trading on the stock exchange. Misfits and conformists, conservatives and idealists, performers and introverts, they mixed with everyone from Queen Victoria to Chaim Weizmann, Rossini to Isaiah Berlin, and the Duke of Wellington to Alec Guinness, as well as with amphetamine-dealers, suffragists and avant-garde artists. Rothschild women helped bring down ghetto walls in early nineteenth-century Frankfurt, inspired some of the most remarkable cultural movements of the Victorian period, and in the mid-twentieth century burst into America, where they patronized Thelonious Monk and drag-raced through Manhattan with Miles Davis. Absorbing and compulsive, The Women of Rothschild gives voice to the complicated, privileged, and gifted women whose vision and tenacity shaped history. A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin's Press..… (more)
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Very interesting.
The book is well written and easy to read, although very long and so full of dates, places and transactions naturally centered around world events and the men that it seems more like a general history of this famous, rich family with the women just a part of it, rather than the celebration of the accomplishments of these women. In fact, their achievements were overlooked, their ideas uncredited and their potential untapped. Without the extraordinary efforts of author Natalie Livingstone and others like her we wouldn’t even be aware of what the Rothschild women did and continue to do.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of The Women of Rothschild in exchange for my honest review. Although it wasn’t really what I expected it was still an enjoyable read. All opinions are my own.
We follow the Rothchild family from discrimination and persecution to wealth, influence and power with predictable excess. We read of other family members descending into lifestyles that might have horrified previous generations. The Rothschild women’s story provides many life lessons of how our choices will determine our fate, influence others and may impact future generations.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars
This is not a quick read. There are many names and historical events among the pages and I
Each of the women featured were well-educated and capable in their own right. Many were multi-lingual and capable of handling the banking, often helping their husbands and/or sons with the business. They were involved in numerous charity and political causes.
The only women I had heard of prior to this book were Gutle and Miriam. Miriam was one of the most recent Rothschilds and she led such a productive life, she could have a book of her own.
Through the years, the family became more mainstream and many today are not as devout in their Jewish faith as their ancestors before them. They also became more relaxed in regard to marriages and marrying outside the family and faith.
I enjoyed reading about these women of the past and recommend this to other readers who enjoy history.
Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advance copy. I am happy to recommend this book and give my honest review.