Mrs. Astor Regrets: The Hidden Betrayals of a Family Beyond Reproach - Paperback

by Meryl Gordon (Author)

Award-winning journalist and New York Times best-selling author Meryl Gordon's Mrs. Astor Regrets: The Hidden Betrayals of a Family Beyond Reproach is "an even-handed and fascinating portrait of a wealthy family torn apart by money, jealousy, and emotional distance" (USA Today).

The fate of Brooke Astor, the endearing philanthropist with the storied name, has generated worldwide headlines since her grandson Philip sued his father in 2006, alleging mistreatment of Brooke. And shortly after her death in 2007, Anthony Marshall, Mrs. Astor's only child, was indicted on charges of looting her estate. Rarely has there been a story with such an appealing heroine, conjuring up a world so nearly forgotten: a realm of lavish wealth and secrets of the sort that have engaged Americans from the era of Edith Wharton to the more recent days of Truman Capote and Vanity Fair.

New York journalist Meryl Gordon has interviewed not only the elite of Brooke Astor's social circle, but also the large staff who cosseted and cared for Mrs. Astor during her declining years. The result is the behind-the-headlines story of the Astor empire's unraveling, filled with never-before-reported scenes. This powerful, poignant saga takes the reader inside the gilded gates of an American dynasty to tell of three generations' worth of longing and missed opportunities. Even in this territory of privilege, no riches can put things right once they've been torn asunder. Here is an American epic of the bonds of money, morality, and social position.

"Gordon seems to have left no diary unread, no servant unsolicited, no socialite unturned...If tabloids are your monring cup of tea, this is your book."--New York Times Book Review

Back Jacket

UPDATED WITH NEW MATERIAL FROM INSIDE THE BROOK ASTOR TRIAL "An even-handed and fascinating portrait of a wealthy family torn apart by money, jealousy, and emotional distance." USA Today
"Spellbinding." Town & Country

The fate of Brooke Astor, the endearing philanthropist with the storied name, has generated worldwide headlines since her grandson Philip sued his father, Anthony Marshall, in 2006, alleging mistreatment of Brooke. Shortly after her death in 2007, Anthony was indicted on charges of looting her estate. In Mrs. Astor Regrets, Meryl Gordon interviewed not only the elite of Mrs. Astor's social circle but also the large staff who cared for her during her declining years. The result is the behind-the-headlines story of the Astor empire s unraveling, a powerful, poignant saga thattakes the reader inside the gilded gates of an American dynasty. Mrs. Astor Regretstells three generations worth of longing and missed opportunitiesandis filled withsecrets of the sort that have engaged Americans from the era of Edith Wharton to the more recent days of Truman Capote. Itis an American epic of the bonds of money, morality, and social position. But even in this territory of utmost privilege, no riches can put things right once they've been torn asunder."Gordon seems to have left no diary unread, no servant unsolicited, no socialite, unturned. . . . If the tabloids are your morning cup of tea, this is your book." New York Times Book Review "[O]ne riveting read." People

MERYL GORDON is a magazine journalist who has written for New York, the New York Times Magazine, Vanity Fair, Elle, Marie Claire, More, and others. Currently the director of magazine writing at NYU's Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute, Meryl lives in New York with her husband, Walter Shapiro.

www.merylgordon.com

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Author Biography

MERYL GORDON is a full-time magazine journalist who has written for New York, the New York Times Magazine, Gourmet, Elle, Marie Claire, More, and others. She has profiled such influential figures as Kofi Annan, Mike Bloomberg, and John Kerry, and such stars as Nicole Kidman, Susan Sarandon, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. She is a graduate of the University of Michigan. Meryl is the currently the Director of Magazine Writing at the NYU Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute and is covering Anthony Marshall's trial for Vanity Fair. www.merylgordon.com