A Well-Behaved Woman

Posted on 11 December 2017 by Therese Anne Fowler

The riveting novel of iron willed Alva Vanderbilt and her illustrious family in as they rule Gilded Age New York, from the New York Times bestselling author of Z A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald.In 1883, the New York Times prints a lengthy rave of Alva Vanderbilt s Fifth Ave costume ball a coup for the former Alva Smith, who not long before was destitute, her family s good name useless on its own Marrying into the newly rich but socially scorned Vanderbilt clan, a union contrived by Alva s bestfriend and now Duchess of Manchester, saved the Smiths and elevated the Vanderbilts.From outside, Alva seems to have it all and want She does have a knack for getting all she tries for the costume ball no mere amusement wrests acceptance from doyenne Caroline Astor Denied abox at the Academy of Music, Alva founds The Met No obstacle puts her off for long.But how much of ambition arises from insecurity From despair From refusal to play insipid games by absurd rules There are, however, consequences to breaking those rules One must tread carefully.And what of her maddening sister in law, Alice Her husband William, who s hiding a terrible betrayal The not entirely unwelcome attentions of his friend Oliver Belmont, who is everything William is not What of her own best friend, whose troubles cast a wide net Alva will build mansions, push boundaries, test friendships, and marry her daughter to England s most eligible duke or die trying She means to do right by all, but good behavior will only get a woman so far What is the price of going further What might be the rewards There s only one way to know for certain Best Read A Well-Behaved Woman by Therese Anne Fowler For Kindle ePUB or eBook – kino-fada.fr A Well Behaved Woman is a gem a fascinating tale of Gilded Age manners and s, and one remarkable woman s attempts to transcend them Therese Anne Fowler, the immensely gifted writer who gave us all new insights into Zelda Fit...This was okay I mean really, just okay I think I skipped around a lot BUT I now know everything about the Vanderbilt family and other swanky 19th century families in NYC So, I wasn t a huge fan, but it did instigate further research Whatever I love research This book was kind of a win on that front ...For me, the mark of a good historical novel is how quickly and deeply I care about the author s depictions of the issues of the past Therese Anne Fowler s A Well Behaved Woman had me immediately engrossed in the world of monied NYC society during the Gilded Age Based on the life of suffragist, socialite, and champion of architecture Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, this novel details a world in which power is doled out according to the number of generations a family has lived in American wealth After For me, the mark of a good historical novel is how quickly and deeply I care about the author s depictions of the issues of the past Therese Anne Fowler s A Well Behaved Woman had me immediately engrossed in the world of monied NYC society during the Gilded Age Based on the life of suffragist, socialite, and champion of architecture Alva Vanderbilt Belmont, this novel details a world in which power is doled out according to the number of generations a family has lived in American wealth After a short courtship and engage...Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy I read Z about Zelda Fitzgerald before, so I m familiar with Fowler s work This novel is about Alva Vanderbilt I was very excited to read about this suffragette and last of the Gilded Age, but the...Yes, I m rating my own novel five stars Would anyone expect an author to do otherwise If you enjoy Jane Austen or Edith Wharton novels, if reading fiction about real figures from history interests you, or if you share a fascin...

11 December 2017

Therese Anne Fowler