A riveting look behind the gates of the house
of Astor as a famous family falls apart in public

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.