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Astor

The Rise and Fall of an American Fortune
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( 18,695 ratings, 1,660 reviews)
Book Hero Magic crafted this summary to help describe this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Summary
Astor by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe explores the dramatic rise and fall of the Astor family, tracing their transformation from humble beginnings to becoming one of the most powerful families in America. The biography delves into their immense influence, lavish lifestyles, and eventual scandals, painting a vivid portrait of American wealth and ambition. Through rich storytelling, the authors provide a gripping narrative of personal triumphs and public downfalls.
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Format: Hardback
$7600

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Book Hero Magic created this recommendation. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! IS THIS YOUR NEXT READ?

If you're intrigued by American history and love discovering the stories behind influential families, this captivating biography might be right up your alley. Delve into the lives and legacy of an iconic dynasty, unraveling tales of power, wealth, and society's ever-changing landscape. It offers a fascinating look at how ambition and family dynamics shape the world around us.

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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

A NPR Best Book of the Year

The number one New York Times bestselling authors of Vanderbilt return with another riveting history of a legendary American family, the Astors, and how they built and lavished their fortune.

The story of the Astors is a quintessentially American story—of ambition, invention, destruction, and reinvention.

From 1783, when German immigrant John Jacob Astor first arrived in the United States, until 2009, when Brooke Astor’s son, Anthony Marshall, was convicted of defrauding his elderly mother, the Astor name occupied a unique place in American society.

The family fortune, first made by a beaver trapping business that grew into an empire, was then amplified by holdings in Manhattan real estate. Over the ensuing generations, Astors ruled Gilded Age New York society and inserted themselves into political and cultural life, but also suffered the most famous loss on the Titanic, one of many shocking and unexpected twists in the family’s story.

In this unconventional, page-turning historical biography, featuring black-and-white and color photographs, #1 New York Times bestselling authors Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe chronicle the lives of the Astors and explore what the Astor name has come to mean in America—offering a window onto the making of America itself.

Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?

Astor by Anderson Cooper and Katherine Howe is well-received for its engaging and entertaining portrayal of the Astor family's influence on New York. Described as a brisk and spirited saga, the book highlights the dynasty's significant contributions and the opulent lifestyle that characterised their era, marked by ambition and excess. The narrative offers insight into the complexities and impact of this iconic family.

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Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780062964700

Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers Inc

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 28 September 2023

Country: United States

Imprint: Harper

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 28.0mm

Width: 152.0mm

Height: 229.0mm

Weight: 560g

Pages: 336

About the Author

Anderson Cooper joined CNN in 2001 and has anchored his own program, “Anderson Cooper 360°,” since March 2003. That show will now become the prime evening news program, replacing “News Night with Aaron Brown.” He had previously served as a correspondent for ABC News and was a foreign correspondent for Channel One News. Cooper has won several awards for his work, including a National Headliners Award for his tsunami coverage and an Emmy Award for his contribution to ABC’s coverage of Princess Diana’s funeral.

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