Gilded Mansions: Grand Architecture and High Society

• Stanford White, Architect
• Newport Villas: The Revival Styles 1885-1935
• Great Houses of Florida
• A Season of Splendor: The Court of Mrs. Astor in Gilded Age New York
• Marie-Antoinette and the Last Garden at Versailles

A lavishly illustrated history of the opulent art and architecture of the Gilded Age.

The Gilded Age (1865-1918) saw the sudden rise High Society, including such prominent families as the Astors, Whitneys, and Vanderbilts. As an aristocracy based on fortunes recently acquired, these families endeavored to blue-blooded nobility, shedding Puritan restraint as they joyously flaunted their new wealth--especially where their homes were concerned.

They erected French chateaus and Italian palazzos on New often taking inspiration from Parisian styles of the Second Empire. They rejected more modest American styles just as they rejected middle-class society, and for interior decoration they turned to such artisans as Tiffany, Paris.

Immensely readable and illuminated with 250 stunning color and black-and-white illustrations, this is the fascinating millionaire society, the way they lived and partied, and the lush artistic and cultural legacy they established.

Time after time I found really inexcusable errors and even text that was at odds with captions under illustrations on the same page. Quite frankly I found almost nothing in this book that would have warranted purchasing it. To be fair, there were some interesting photographs and an occational bit of new information. I've read some poorly written books in my day; but this book was at the top of the list. I rated this book one star because the program required a rating.

But for the most part it was a rehash of common knowledge that anyone could have accessed. I'd rather have rated it no stars. I was appalled by the sheer amount of misinformation that anyone with even a modicum of knowledge of Gilded Age architecture would recognize. I'm sorry I did. What I find so annoying is that this book was written by someone who should have known better and was published by a reputable company.

"High society in the 19th century was different from you and me and these ornate luxury, money pits of houses proves that while you can't take it with you, you can sure spend it when you are here."

The best book for those interested in the history of these great homes and the people that lived in them. Highly recommended

This is important for the expert who thought he/she had seen it all.b) the book is beautifully produced. This adds to the credibility. So many of these books end up confusing names and the generations they belong to. Ive read dozens on this subject (old and new) and Craven's book does the following very well.a) includes heretofore unpublished photos of homes and people. I agree with the reviewer in N.C.

If you are an expert in this subject then you want your Vanderbilts, Burdens, Webbs and Astors correctly named and dated. This is an excellent book. Lush, high grade paper, invitingly formatted. d) the bibliography contains books that I did not even know of.All and all and excellent result. c) gets all the names and generations right.

One of the best books on the Gilded Age Ive seen. Lots of color pics too.