from mullgirl

I'm a historical voyeur. I enjoy looking back and seeing the way that people used to live in all walks of life. And of course a peak into the uber-rich's lifestyle is always interesting. That is what drew my attention to this book.If you're interested in historical New York hotels, why they were ...

from DeltaQueen50

When the Astors Owned New York: Blue Bloods and Grand Hotels in a Gilded Age by Justin Kaplan provided enough interesting details about the Astor family dynamics to keep me reading to the end. These multi-billionaires lived in a time of excess and they were the pinnacle of American high society. ...

from sbenne3

A well-written account of an interesting time in history. I thought it went a little too deep on some members of the family. I would have like a broader perspective on more Astors as well as a little more about where that fortune is now.

from mgaulding

I really didn't know much about this historic feud of two Astor family titans who in essence established the very notion of luxury hotels. A fun read.

from pennsylady

Blue bloods and grand hotels in a gilded age by Justin Kaplan 181pg hardcover ★ ★ ★ The family patriarch, John Jacob Astor, left the German village of Waldorf circa 1780 and started a fur-trading business in New York. He was the barely literate son of the village butcher. By the time of his death...