The Grandes Dames

by Stephen Birmingham

The acclaimed social historian provides an in-depth look at eight society women who shaped upper class culture from the Gilded Age to WWII.

Astor. Rockefeller. McCormick. Belmont. Family names that still adorn buildings, streets, and charity foundations. While their men blazed across America with their oil, industry, and railways, the matriarchs founded art museums, opera houses, and symphonies that functioned almost as private clubs. Linked by money, marriage, privilege, and power, these women formed a grand American matriarchy—and they ruled American society with a style and impact that make today’s socialites seem pale reflections of their forbears.

Stephen Birmingham takes us into the drawing rooms of these powerful women, providing keen insights into an American society that no longer exists. Caroline Astor, who, when asked for her fare boarding a streetcar, responded, “No thank you, I have my own favorite charities.” Edith “Effie” Stern deciding that no existing school would do for her child, so she had a new one built. And the legendary Isabella Stewart Gardner replying to a contemporary who was overly taken with their Mayflower “Of course, immigration laws are much more strict nowadays.”

These women had looks, manner, and style, but more than that, they had presence—a sense that when one of them entered a room, something momentous was about to occur; Birmingham opens a window to the highest levels of American society with these profiles of American “royalty.”

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography

452 pages, Kindle Edition

Published May 14, 2024

Reviews

[Bethany Claus Widick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun to read, but sloppily researched -- found a number of mistakes in his pages about Chicago.

[Bonnieb · Rating 2 out of 5]

After many years, I finally read this book that had belonged to my Mom. It didn’t really deserve more than a quickread. It was fun gossip; that is the only way to describe it. It tells the ‘story’ of several different ultra-wealthy women of the 19th and 20th century. This included women of the East Coast, New Orleans, and Edith Rockefeller McCormick, second daughter of John D., Sr., the founder of the fortune, who married Harold Fowler McCormick, son of Cyrus Hall McCormick, “Chicago’s ‘Reaper King’.” The section on her is titled, The Queen of Gomorrah, and if accurate, genuinely reflects the absurd conspicuous consumption of the ultra-wealthy of the late 19th century and 20th century. Interesting bit of Chicago Opera history surrounding her and her husband; also some tidbits about other Rockefellers, including Nelson, who, if Barbara Sears Rockefeller in 1978 was accurate, and Birmingham cited her correctly, might have been ‘overly interested’ in fires. Birmingham called it “a curious fondness for fires and firemen, and coincidentally managed to be on the scene at the time of two major conflagrations, where he was able to put on a fireman’s helmet and help man the hoses—at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and at his Governor’s Mansion in Albany.” Would not recommend the book.

[Margaret Higgins · Rating 4 out of 5]

fun gossipy read. i only knew two of the ladies. the premise was good, but a i would have preferred less ladies but more in depth about each one. i always feel with birmingham that he is dishes with at a cocktail party

[Mary Jane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very interesting! I did not recognize al of the names of the great women of society in the late 1800's and on up to WWII, but as I read on I did recognize the family names, their charities, or their buildings, museums, homes, businesses, etc.. Having grown up after this era, I remember names like Astor, McCormick, Rockefeller, but I loved learning about the back stories this book relates. These eight women were women of enormous wealth---reading about their social events in NY, Chicago, Philadelphia, their "summer homes in Rhode Island, and the Adirondacks, for example, knocked my socks off! Redemption was illustrated by their philanthropy. These women were responsible for fantastic charitable efforts: building an entire village for the underserved, collecting art and housing it in museums still in existence today, building schools throughout the South for African American students. It was astonishing! In addition, the chatty tone Birmingham uses throughout the book, reveals some obnoxious, wonderful, reserved, quirky women: Access Hollywood for Society Women of the past!
Though I notice some reviews are not positive, I really was intrigued and thoroughly enjoyed this book. I am now reading another of Stephen Birmingham's books: "Life at the Dakota", all about the NYC building which has been home to John and Yoko Lennon, Lauren Bacall, and other luminaries. I'm loving it!

[Tara Crisan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Illuminating

This book is about an oft overlooked group in women's history. Their decisions carved out the Eastern Sea Board. Their contributions to museums and charity were invaluable. And they were a bunch of plucky broads who usually got their way..of course having money helped. But they had interesting stories and personalities. The over the top decadence was hard to read especially during the depression. But history is to be learned and learned from, not glossed over or swept under the rung and this was an informative and almost entirely entertaining look at the class and era. Worth your money and your time.

[Kathleen]

I was interested in this book because I very much enjoy visiting museums. I was very interested in the chapters on Isabella Stewart Gardner (I recently read a biography titled, Chasing Beauty) and Ima Hogg because I was visiting Houston.

Part One: Little Eva vs. Philadelphia
Part Two: New York Belle Among the Brahmins - Isabella Stewart Gardner
Part Three: Jewish Princess of the Old South -
Part Four: The Queen of Gomorrah -
Part Five: The Loneliest Millionairess -
Part Six: A Woman of Mystery -
Part Seven: "Walk Erect, Young Woman!" -
Part Eight: First Lady - Ima Hogg (Houston)

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Provides eight profiles of American “royalty”. Wealthy matriarchs who founded art museums, opera houses while ruling American society with a style and impact that make today’s socialites seem pale reflections of their forbears. Linked by money, marriage, privilege, power and class, they formed a grand American matriarchy that dominated the social and cultural life of the nation between the 1870s and the Second World War. They knew just what they wanted, how to get it, and, when faced with criticism, malice or jealousy, they would rise above their detractors and usually persevere.

[Mickey Solan · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you love the gilded age, you will definitely love this book. It gives you the background of all the wives of the famous husband what happens when the wives step in and get society going. Many of our Gilded age families are mentioned and it really was very very interesting. I totally enjoyed it and I think whoever within my Gilded age Facebook page who recommended it thank you.

[Sharon Seymour · Rating 4 out of 5]

interesting social history

You’ve heard of the Astors, the Vanderbilts, the Morgans. Here are the stories of the wives and daughters of some other robber baron era movers and shakers who made significant and lasting contributions to America using their own talents and skills.

[Deborah Kukal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting and new knowledge for me

Very interesting reviews of the lives of some American women, and a few men of whom I had really know clear knowledge, and who are worth knowing.

[Linda Berger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Granted Dames

Quite a fascinating book. A great read into the lives of these amazing women and their accomplishments. Do we have anyone today that embraces the Grandes Dames philosophy and demeanor? A great who's who of these very special women and their powers of persuasion.

[Claire Ehrenfeld · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have enjoyed reading about the grandes dames of the Gilded Age, especially the Vanderbilts and the Astors. This book tells about some lesser known ladies of the era and beyond. If you like this genre you are in for a good read with this book.

[Adrienne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and entertaining. Nice to read about rich people trying to do some good with their money.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

I think the review I read gave me a very different idea of what this book was about. It was still an interesting story, but just not what I expected. And parts of the book seemed slow to get through.

First of all, the book was about quite a few women I had not heard of before. Interestingly, I had heard of some of their husbands (August Belmont), parents (Rockefellers) or parents-in-law (Dodges and McCormicks). But I guess that isn't surprising since women in that era were generally viewed as just a spouse, not independent or having their own career. And most of the women who's lives were depicted were using money that their husbands or fathers had made. But what was so astounding was the vast fortunes these men had acquired for the times.

Since each section is about a different woman, the book makes it easy to pick and choose who you'd like to read about and in what order. Some of the ladies were much more interesting than others. But it was enjoyable to see the strong ideas many of the women had about philanthropy, and how they eventually put their beliefs into action at a time society really didn't give women lots of ways to go about that. And some of the ideas were very grand--like designing and building what amounted to a whole village for low-income families, or schools throughout the South for black children. And both of these ideas were accomplished, and long before society in general came to believe in these ideas.