The Glitter and the Gold

The Glitter and the Gold: The American Duchess---in Her Own Words | Consuela Vanderbilt Balsan

Husband got me this for my birthday (among many other wonderful books and presents!)

Last week we visited the Biltmore and I saw this in the gift shop. Apparently he saw me leafing through it and ordered it from Amazon while he was standing right behind me. ❤️😁

DivineDiana I am so excited to see this! Just finished a book about Alva Vanderbilt, the mother of Consuelo. Planning to visit The Biltmore. Where did you stay? Any tips? (edited) 5y

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @DivineDiana what was the book you read about Alva? This fascinates me! We found a GREAT place on Airbnb right across the street from New Belgium brewery. Perfect spot and was only $50 a night. If you buy your tickets the the Biltmore ahead of time, it‘s cheaper 👍 Also, this book about the Biltmore is wonderful

The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation�s Largest Home

DivineDiana The book was

A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts

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DivineDiana Thank you for the tips! Going to buy your recommended book! Would you kindly email me the info on the Airbnb you recommended? dmillerick@comcast.net 5y

CouronneDhiver Lovely! 5y

Tamra Sweet! 5y

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @DivineDiana Sent you an email! 👍 5y

LeahBergen Oh, I have this one waiting on my shelf! 👍🏻 I also have

Consuelo and Alva Vanderbilt: The Story of a Daughter and a Mother in the Gilded Age

LeahBergen Oh, and Happy Birthday! 📚📚📚 5y

Slajaunie So sweet! 5y

ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @LeahBergen Thank you! 😁 5y

ValerieAndBooks So nice!! I have fond memories of visiting Asheville and Biltmore many years ago (and admit that these Vanderbilts fascinate me) — we stayed at the Grove Park Inn; that was pre- Airbnb! 5y

Tanisha_A Just sooo sweet! 5y

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Verity

The Glitter and the Gold | Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan

pan

I struggled through this. I‘m really interested in the woman herself and her story, I just can‘t stand her writing style! And she‘s obviously got a perspective - but beyond the detail of her early life and the way she was forced into marriage there‘s not a lot of insight here.

Reviewsbylola That‘s too bad this was a flop. What a gorgeous cover! 6y

Verity @Reviewsbylola it is such a gorgeous cover - and she really was a beauty. But not a great writer. Or even a good one... 6y

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Mdargusch

The Glitter and the Gold | Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan

I visited Blenheim twice while in England and I became fascinated with the American women that found English nobility to marry. The men needed #americanmoney to fund their estates and the Americans wanted titles, so it was a perfect match. This is the memoir of Consuelo Vanderbilt who was in love with an American but her mother forced her to marry the Duke of Marlborough like Lady Grantham of Downton Abbey. #aprella

Cinfhen, Reviewsbylola, emilyhaldi

lauraodom Great description! 6y

Cinfhen Nice choice! Outside the box thinking....sounds fascinating ~ I always marveled at these dynasties 6y

emilyhaldi Sounds really good!!! 💸💸 6y

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BiblioLitten Perfectly fits the DA reference 😊 6y

Mdargusch Thanks 😁 @Cinfhen @lauraodom @emilyhaldi @BiblioLitten - the real Downton Abbey. 6y

charl08 Have you read this one on the US/UK marriages? I loved it, due a reread I think.

The Buccaneers: A Novel

Reviewsbylola Sounds like a win win for all involved! 6y

GripLitGrl Sounds very interesting love your photo! 6y

Mdargusch Stacking @charl08 👍🏼 6y

Mdargusch Thanks @GripLitGrl 😁 6y

smilingshelves I have this book on my shelf, but it has the most terrible cover. I like yours so much better! 6y

RaimeyGallant Interesting. 6y

jillrhudy Consuelo Vanderbilt coined the phrase “a heir and a spare.” 6y

Mdargusch It‘s a pretty great cover @smilingshelves - I actually bought it at Blenheim palace. 6y

Mdargusch Ha! I did not know that @jillrhudy 6y

ValerieAndBooks That photo of Consuelo is a popular one— it‘s on the cover of my (still TBR) copy of

To Marry an English Lord

Mdargusch I read that one too! @ValerieAndBooks 😁 6y

jillrhudy I think they are called “dollar duchesses”—I just remembered 6y

Mdargusch Perfect name for them @jillrhudy 6y

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anhistorianabouttown

The Glitter and the Gold: The American Duchess---in Her Own Words | Consuela Vanderbilt Balsan

so-so

This is a fairly easy read, though it seems to move through Conseulo's life at a very even pace- there were no highs or lows according to this. I might recommend To Marry An English Lord instead if you are interested in the phenomenon of American heiresses marrying English lords #history #biography

8 likes

anhistorianabouttown

The Glitter and the Gold | Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan

Finally reading/listening to The Glitter and the Gold, a wonderful trip into the past! #biography #history #Aristocracy

3 likes

Verity

The Glitter and the Gold | Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan

My next history nonfiction pick is Consuelo Vanderbilt‘s autobiography which got more than one mention in my last history pick. I‘m interested to see what she had to say and how it squared up with what else I know!

rubyslippersreads I've been meaning to read this, so I'll be interested in your review. 6y

Verity @rubyslippersreads I‘m expecting her to grind a massive axe... I‘ll keep you posted! 6y

LeahBergen I have this waiting on my shelf. I bought a biography of her and her mother at around the same time (just for the impartiality 😆) . 6y

LeahBergen

Consuelo and Alva Vanderbilt: The Story of a Daughter and a Mother in the Gilded Age

Verity @LeahBergen I have that on my wish list! 6y

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