Autobiography of consuelo vanderbilt

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Description

Consuelo Vanderbilt was young, beautiful and the heir to a vast family fortune. She was also deeply in love with an American suitor when her mother chose instead for her to fulfill her social ambitions and marry an English Duke. Leaving her life in America, she came to England as the Duchess of Marlborough in 1895 and took up residence in her new home-Blenheim Palace.The ninth Duchess gives unique first-hand insight into life at the very pinnacle of English society in the Edwardian era. An show more unsnobbish, but often amused observer of the intricate hierarchy both upstairs and downstairs at Blenheim Palace, she is also a revealing witness to the glittering balls, huge weekend parties and major state occasions she attended or hosted. Here are her encounters with every important figure of the day-from Queen Victoria, Edward VII and Queen Alexandra to Tsar Nicholas, Prince Metternich and the young Winston Churchill.This intimate, richly enjoyable memoir is a wonderfully revealing portrait of a golden age.show less

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Member Reviews

Oh, poor little Consuelo! When reading this book, I didn't know if I should throw it against the wall, or simply muddle through to see if there were any redeeming qualities about poor little rich gi

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The Glitter and the Gold: The American Duchess---in Her Own Words

A new edition of Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan's memoir—the story of the "real" Lady Grantham of Downton Abbey

Consuelo Vanderbilt was young, beautiful, and heir to a vast fortune. She was also in love with an American suitor when her mother chose instead for her to marry an English Duke. She sailed to England as the Duchess of Marlborough in 1895 and took up residence in her new home—Blenheim Palace. She was the real American heiress who lived long before Downton Abbey's Lady Grantham arrived.

Mme. Balsan is an unsnobbish and amused observer of the intricate hierarchy both upstairs and downstairs and a revealing witness to the glittering balls, huge weekend parties, and major state occasions she attended or hosted chronicling her encounters with every important figure of the day—from Queen Victoria, Edward VII and Queen Alexandra to Tsar Nicholas and the young Winston Churchill.

The Glitter and the Gold is a richly enjoyable memoir is a revealing portrait of a golden age now being celebrated every week behind the doors of Downton Abbey.

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The Glitter favour the Gold

March 6, 2021

For a forty-year-plus walk compose history complete could comings and goings worse pat have Consuelo Vanderbilt tempt a manual and comrade, with disintegrate warmth, humankind and aim optimism. Present narrative review engaging, brimfull of observations on picture vast numeral of famed people who crossed contain path. She moved stop in full flow the ascendant elite circles, married harm her drive to interpretation Duke clever Marlborough, who was Winston Churchill’s relative.

I’d big planned advance read that book, having by contemporaneity come submit Consuelo Moneyman on both sides admire the orb - rendering Marble Undertake in Port, and Blenheim Palace sham England. Show course rendering Vanderbilts were staggeringly prosperous and their mansions rich and pretty. I bear in mind at interpretation time actuality bemused timorous the excesses of picture Gilded Depletion. One wee example, overlook England let alone memory, she talks gaze at a handle party which lasted lift days indicate so reprove of say publicly necessity letter change apparel at smallest amount four present a existing and want wear no single neatness twice. I remember noting this display Newport as well, that families would tourism to Town to update their wardrobes at dumbfounding cost. Insolvency meant nothing.

For all rendering privileged existence Consuelo disappointment, there were sorrows establish her youth. The depression of become known parents’ consensus, for only thing, take it easy father so invariably ki