Fortune's Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt

By Arthur T. Vanderbilt II and Arthur T Vanderbilt II

Book Overview

Wall Street Journal Bestseller

For fans of Downton Abbey, a real-life American version of the Crawley family--Fortune's Children is an enthralling work of American history that recreates the drama, splendor, and wealth of the legendary Vanderbilt family.

Vanderbilt: The very name is synonymous with the Gilded Age. The family patriarch, "the Commodore," built a fortune that made him the world's richest man by 1877. Yet, less than fifty years after his death, no Vanderbilt was counted among the world's richest people. Written by descendant Arthur T. Vanderbilt II, Fortune's Children traces the dramatic and amazingly colorful history of this great American family, from the rise of industrialist Cornelius Vanderbilt to the fall of his progeny--wild spendthrifts whose profligacy bankrupted a vast inheritance.

This riveting family saga chronicles the astounding rise and spectacular fall of an American dynasty, detailing:

The Gilded Age: A vivid portrait of an era of epic extravagance, from the great Fifth Avenue mansions to the social wars of New York society.From Rags to Riches: The incredible story of "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, the patriarch who built a railroad and shipping empire to become the richest man in the world.A Dynasty's Fall: An inside look at the wild spendthrifts and profligate heirs whose choices dismantled one of the world's greatest fortunes in less than fifty years.An Insider's Account: Written by a family descendant, Arthur T. Vanderbilt II, offering a unique and personal perspective on the legendary family's history.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0062224069
• ISBN13: 9780062224064
• Release Date: January 2001
• Publisher: William Morrow & Company
• Length: 544 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.4" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Fantastic read !

I'm reading this book and it has captivated my intellect and curiosity. Well written and gloriously interesting !

Compelling

Since the book was written by a Vanderbilt, I dubiously expected a sanitized version and was delightfully surpised to find the author was brutally honest about the characters covered. This book was engrossing. I could not put it down. The portion about the Gloria Vanderbilt custody case was particularly engaging - what a piece of work the maternal grandmother was. But the book as a whole was a gem - I devoured every page and was sad to see it end. I do agree with the previous reviewer who said a genealogical tree would have helped to refer to when reading about the characters and keeping track of how they were all related to each other, especially since the family was so fecund and so many of the men had similiar names. I think it also interesting the author does not mention precisely which branch of the family he is descended from. So perhaps he is trying to maintain some of his own identity. But all in all, this excellent read has whetted my desire to read more about the Vanderbilts, as well as other East Coast aristocratic families.

A story about one of the most storied American families

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I bought it at Frederick William Vanderbilt's home on the Hudson River while on vacation, and managed to finish it before leaving northern New York. It is very difficult to put down because it is a study of people, all from the same family, yet the only connecting trait of the whole bunch is the name Vanderbilt. Arthur Vanderbilt truthfully portrays the great business acumen of the early generations of Vanderbilts, as well as the mistakes, gaffes, and scandals of the later ones. The downward spiral of the family is impressively told in an engaging and simple read. For anyone interested in American history and the people that made it, this is certainly a good choice.

All you wanted to know about the Vanderbilts-and more!

What can I say? This book is truly fabulous. Even if you are not interested in the Vanderbilt family, you must read this book! It just shows how truth is stranger than fiction. The cast of characters in this book includes: Cornelius Vanderbilt, his son William Henry, the famous Alva Vanderbilt (who practically sells her daughter to an broke English lord for marriage) to Gloria Vanderbilt as a little child getting fought over. These are just some of the interesting people you will meeet in this book. I would give it ten stars, if I could!

What if a miser's grandchildren were spendthrifts?

Meet Cornelius Vanderbilt, a.k.a. the Commodore. In a time when there were only 12 millionaires in America, he was worth $50 million. By the time he died, it was double. He was a ruthless miser who owned a monopoly over New York City. When he died, he passed it all down to a son who increased the fortune dramatically. When the son died, well, the grandkids spent it.Donate pennies to charities; build mansions with the rest. This is how the remaining Vanderbilts lived for nearly a century. Would you have believed that 5th Avenue was a residential area? You should, they OWNED it. Richer than any other family in the world, the Vanderbilts had no one to compete against except themselves, constantly building larger mansions, country houses, and yachts. Their picture galleries could fill the Louvre. Their libraries could make any bookworm (and his grandkids) happy until their death. The dollar amounts that appear in every page in this book will make you rethink the real value of $1 million.But aside from that, they have a story that's extraordinarily well written. Including details only a family member could, Arthur T. Vanderbilt II fashions a history that would make any bank jealous. Included (and to much relief) are pages of pictures and a family tree, both of which I referred back to often. His research is greater than any other I've seen, with a bibliography and notes spanning 80 pages. Quotes smother the pages and give a more than adequate description to every person, house, and ball relative to the family. An incredible story it is, containing 150 years. I commend Mr. Vanderbilt (the author) for taking the challenge, and more importantly, doing it with style.