Summary

A riveting look behind the gates of the house of Astor as a 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 and Vanity Fair. 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.

Author Biography

MERYL GORDON is a full-time magazine journalist who for the past fifteen years has been a contract writer for New York magazine. She has profiled such influential figures as Kofi Annan, Mike Bloomberg, and John Kerry, and such stars as Nicole Kidman, Susan Sarandon, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. She has written major features for the New York Times Magazine, Gourmet, Elle, Marie Claire, and More. Earlier in her career she covered the police and court beats in Cincinnati and Rochester, and then became an economics writer in Washington, D.C. A graduate of the University of Michigan, she lives in New York City with her husband, Walter Shapiro, who is the Washington bureau chief for Salon.com.

Prologue: Trial by Tabloid	p. 1
The Astor 100	p. 6
A Little Night Music	p. 19
Disaster for Mrs. Astor	p. 34
"I Married a Terrible Man"	p. 49
An American Romance	p. 65
White-Glove Philanthropy	p. 78
The Perils of Charlene	p. 105
The Painting Vanishes	p. 128
The Treacherous Codicils	p. 152
"I Didn't Know It Would Be Armageddon"	p. 173
Blue-Blood Battle	p. 198
The Art of Shunning	p. 213
A Wonderful Life	p. 239
Family Plot	p. 254
Epilogue: A Sunset in Maine	p. 278
Acknowledgments	p. 285
Notes	p. 288
Bibliography	p. 319
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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Excerpts

Amid the whirl of Mrs. Astor's one-hundredth birthday celebration, her son, Tony Marshall, and daughter-in-law, Charlene Marshall, tried to play host to her glamorous friends. The day had not gotten off to the best start. Upon arriving at Mrs. Astor's country estate, they discovered that they had been given the least desirable guest room. Then they learned that Mrs. Astor would be escorted into this uncommon gathering not by Tony but by Viscount Astor, in from London. Now at the party they hoavered by Brooke's side. In a room of women for whom thinness was a religion, Charlene--closer to a size 12 than a 2--stood out for her appearance as well as for her playful, earthy personality. Fiercely protective of Tony and sensitive to Brooke's all-too-frequent slights, Charlene was determined that she and her husband hold their own on this occasion.Perched regally on a sofa, Brooke accepted compliments. "Oscar did this phenomenal dress for her, this exquisite blue taffeta, all these ruffles, a work of art. She know how fabulous it was," recalls Paul LeClerc, president of the New York Public Library. Joining Mrs. Astor at the head table for dinner were Laurance and David Rockefeller, Viscount Astor, Barbara Walters, and Oscar and Annette de la Renta. Tony and Charlene's table, so near and yet so far, could have been considered Siberia in a Brooke-centric universe.Trout mousse with a caviar beurre-blanc sauce was followed by poussin and asparagus with hazelnuts. Tony seized his moment by announcing that Charlene would present his mother with flowers sent by Prince Charles. An intimate friend of the Astors recalls, "Everybody knew that Brooke did not like Charlene. Tony did it to try to establish the impression of a relationship." How quickly plans can go awry. As Barbara Walters recalls, "Charlene brought over the flowers to Brooke, who made a terrible face. The pleasure was taken away by the fact it was Charlene delivering them." The rebuff, along with Charlene's hurt look, stilled the room, "Brooke thought Charlene was horning in on her moment," recalls Liz Smith. "I was just horrified."