The Social Graces [Book Review] #ThrowbackThursday #GildedAge

Today for #ThrowBackThursday I’m featuring The Social Graces, a story inspired by the Mrs. Vanderbilt and Mrs. Astor feud.

The Social Graces by Rene Rosen

The Social Graces by Renee Rosen (cover) Image: 4 young women in 1880s dress walk arm in arm away from the camera toward an arch in the background

Genre/Categories/Setting: Historical Fiction, Women’s Fiction, Rivaleries, Gilded Age, New York City

Welcome to #ThrowBackThursday where I highlight an older review or post a current review of a backlist title. Today, I’m sharing a story of the Gilded Age, The Social Graces.

I’m linking up with Davida @ The Chocolate Lady’s Book Review Blog for #ThrowbackThursday.

*This post contains Amazon affiliate links.

My Summary:

Set in the late 1800s, The Social Graces shares the story of the historic and notorious feud/rivalry between Mrs. Caroline Astor and Mrs. Alva Vanderbilt as witnessed by New York Society during The Gilded Age. In this time, when women often found their power in society, simple wealth wasn’t enough. Your status in society depended upon old money or new money. Caroline is from old money and is the reigning Queen of society while Alva is from Mobile, Alabama and married into the wealthy Vanderbilt family. Alva soon discovers that mere wealth isn’t enough to get accepted into the top 400 of New York Society, so she sets out in cunning and devious ways to get accepted and perhaps even dethrone Caroline.

Alva Vanderbilt (in costume)

Mrs. Vanderbilt (in costume)

Caroline Astor

Mrs. Astor

Women behaving badly…

Continue here for my full review of The Social Graces…


QOTD:

Do you love stories set in the Gilded Age?
Purchase information here.

Related: Another story that is set during the Gilded Age and mentions prominent families in New York City is The Gilded Years by Karin Tanabe.

10 comments

  1. I don’t know a lot about this time in history. This book sounds interesting and that it might be a bit risque with those feuds.

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