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The Glitter and the Gold
The Glitter and the Gold | Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan
6 posts | 5 read | 1 reading | 12 to read
Consuelo Vanderbilt was young, beautiful and the heir to a vast family fortune. She was also deeply in love with an American suitor when her mother chose instead for her to fulfil her social ambitions and marry an English Duke. Leaving her life in America, she came to England as the Duchess of Marlborough in 1895 and took up residence in her new home - Blenheim Palace. The 9th Duchess gives unique first-hand insight into life at the very pinnacle of English society in the Edwardian era. An unsnobbish, but often amused observer of the intricate hierarchy both upstairs and downstairs at Blenheim Palace, she is also a revealing witness to the glittering balls, huge weekend parties and major state occasions she attended or hosted. Here are her encounters with every important figure of the day - from Queen Victoria, Edward V11 and Queen Alexandra to Tsar Nicholas, Prince Metternich and the young Winston Churchill. Causing a scandal by separating from the Duke after 11 years, Consuelo began her new life as philanthropist, public speaker and campaigner for women's suffrage. Her literary soirees would include H G Wells, JM Barrie and George Bernard Shaw. In 1921 she remarried aviator Jacques Balsan moving with him to a chateau in the South of France. This intimate, richly enjoyable memoir is a wonderfully revealing portrait of a golden age.
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blurb
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled
The Glitter and the Gold: The American Duchess---in Her Own Words | Consuela Vanderbilt Balsan
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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) 6y
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
[tagged book]The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nations Largest Home
6y
DivineDiana The book was
[tagged book]A Well-Behaved Woman: A Novel of the Vanderbilts
6y
See All 13 Comments
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 6y
CouronneDhiver Lovely! 6y
Tamra Sweet! 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @DivineDiana Sent you an email! 👍 6y
LeahBergen Oh, I have this one waiting on my shelf! 👍🏻 I also have
[tagged book]Consuelo and Alva Vanderbilt: The Story of a Daughter and a Mother in the Gilded Age
6y
LeahBergen Oh, and Happy Birthday! 📚📚📚 6y
Slajaunie So sweet! 6y
ErickaS_Flyleafunfurled @LeahBergen Thank you! 😁 6y
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! 6y
Tanisha_A Just sooo sweet! 6y
62 likes3 stack adds13 comments
review
Verity
Verity
The Glitter and the Gold | Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan
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Panpan

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
29 likes2 comments
blurb
Mdargusch
Mdargusch
The Glitter and the Gold | Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan
post image

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

tagged users iconCinfhen, Reviewsbylola, emilyhaldi
lauraodom Great description! 7y
Cinfhen Nice choice! Outside the box thinking....sounds fascinating ~ I always marveled at these dynasties 7y
emilyhaldi Sounds really good!!! 💸💸 7y
See All 19 Comments
BiblioLitten Perfectly fits the DA reference 😊 7y
Mdargusch Thanks 😁 @Cinfhen @lauraodom @emilyhaldi @BiblioLitten - the real Downton Abbey. 7y
charl08 Have you read this one on the US/UK marriages? I loved it, due a reread I think.
[tagged book]The Buccaneers: A Novel
7y
Reviewsbylola Sounds like a win win for all involved! 7y
GripLitGrl Sounds very interesting love your photo! 7y
Mdargusch Stacking @charl08 👍🏼 7y
Mdargusch Thanks @GripLitGrl 😁 7y
smilingshelves I have this book on my shelf, but it has the most terrible cover. I like yours so much better! 7y
RaimeyGallant Interesting. 7y
jillrhudy Consuelo Vanderbilt coined the phrase “a heir and a spare.” 7y
Mdargusch It‘s a pretty great cover @smilingshelves - I actually bought it at Blenheim palace. 7y
Mdargusch Ha! I did not know that @jillrhudy 7y
ValerieAndBooks That photo of Consuelo is a popular one— it‘s on the cover of my (still TBR) copy of
[tagged book]To Marry an English Lord
7y
Mdargusch I read that one too! @ValerieAndBooks 😁 7y
jillrhudy I think they are called “dollar duchesses”—I just remembered 7y
Mdargusch Perfect name for them @jillrhudy 7y
104 likes4 stack adds19 comments
review
anhistorianabouttown
anhistorianabouttown
The Glitter and the Gold: The American Duchess---in Her Own Words | Consuela Vanderbilt Balsan
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Mehso-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
blurb
anhistorianabouttown
anhistorianabouttown
The Glitter and the Gold | Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan
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Finally reading/listening to The Glitter and the Gold, a wonderful trip into the past! #biography #history #Aristocracy

3 likes
blurb
Verity
Verity
The Glitter and the Gold | Consuelo Vanderbilt Balsan
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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. 7y
Verity @rubyslippersreads I‘m expecting her to grind a massive axe... I‘ll keep you posted! 7y
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 😆) . 7y
LeahBergen
[tagged book]Consuelo and Alva Vanderbilt: The Story of a Daughter and a Mother in the Gilded Age
7y
Verity @LeahBergen I have that on my wish list! 7y
23 likes1 stack add5 comments