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I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise: A Life of Bunny Mellon
Bunny Mellon, whose life was marked by astonishing good fortune as well as tragedy and scandal, remains a singular figure in the annals of American design. She had her finger on the pulse of American culture and possessed a rare sense of style and grace. Her most celebrated work—the White House Rose Garden—demonstrated how formal restraint and the sparing use of color could be deployed to maximal effect.
In I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise, Mac Griswold—who knew Mellon personally—delves into her subject's closely-guarded personal archives to construct an unrivaled portrait of a woman as complex and multifaceted as the gardens and homes on which she left her mark. This book explores the tension between Mellon's idea of herself as a "poor little rich girl" and her own enterprising spirit. Mellon tested the anodyne 1950s model of woman as-wife-as-mother by getting a divorce, admitting candidly to her first husband that she wanted a richer one. She imperiously traded old friends for new, and ultimately used her reputation, her connections, and above all her money to help fund John Edwards's short-lived presidential campaign.
How Mellon's character, style, and taste developed together to produce her greatest accomplishments—private and public—is the real subject of this biography.
In I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise, Mac Griswold—who knew Mellon personally—delves into her subject's closely-guarded personal archives to construct an unrivaled portrait of a woman as complex and multifaceted as the gardens and homes on which she left her mark. This book explores the tension between Mellon's idea of herself as a "poor little rich girl" and her own enterprising spirit. Mellon tested the anodyne 1950s model of woman as-wife-as-mother by getting a divorce, admitting candidly to her first husband that she wanted a richer one. She imperiously traded old friends for new, and ultimately used her reputation, her connections, and above all her money to help fund John Edwards's short-lived presidential campaign.
How Mellon's character, style, and taste developed together to produce her greatest accomplishments—private and public—is the real subject of this biography.
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Published November 15, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
November 20, 2022
When I requested this arc I didn't know who Bunny Mellon was and checked on AD her gardens and residences.
I was fascinated by the taste, elegance.
This is the story of a creative woman who was extremely wealthy, not always happy, but who created great gardens and wonderful interiors.
It's also the story of the 1% of the 1%, a world so removed from me that i can only read about it.
The author is a good storyteller and the book is never dry or boring.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
I was fascinated by the taste, elegance.
This is the story of a creative woman who was extremely wealthy, not always happy, but who created great gardens and wonderful interiors.
It's also the story of the 1% of the 1%, a world so removed from me that i can only read about it.
The author is a good storyteller and the book is never dry or boring.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this arc, all opinions are mine
May 6, 2023
When she died in 2014, 103 years old, it could be said that Rachel Lambert Mellon had lived a very full life, not only for her longevity but for all that she accomplished. She was born into a family of wealth and property, and she twice married men of wealth and property, Her husband Paul Mellon was one of the richest men in the United States For a woman of her time, born in 1910, not much was expected of her other than to marry well, produce children, and take care of her husband, their family, and home. However, there was a great deal more to this woman who was known as Bunny.
Most widely known as an icon of style, among others she was known as one of the most accomplished landscape architects in the world, and as a horticulturalist, and gardener who actually got her hands in the soil and used clippers to prune various shrubs into submission. She was also a philanthropist and art collector, and lived and created a life of luxury that was not ostentatious. It was a world of Downton Abbey, Gosford Park, and the novels of Edith Wharton. The author Mac Griswold had access to a large collection of private papers, notably Bunny's meticulous daily notebooks and other personal documentation about her work as a landscapist and gardener. The life that Bunny created sounds as well-thought-out and meticulous as the life that the late Queen Elizabeth II orchestrated, at least as much as we know of her world. Griswold states that Bunny had a belief, " ... in beauty as a practical, working construct, a vehicle to another world ... " An implicit aspect of this ethos was beauty that did not call attention to itself. It was a harmonious environment that she had the ability and vision to create, whether it included major works of art that she and Paul Mellon collected and had in their homes, or something that was an everyday object. This was one of her paramount innate talents, which can only be observed, but not taught. Major architects, who worked with her, have remarked that Bunny Mellon had an innate sense of proportion that went beyond measuring spaces and laying out blueprints, because she could visually study a plot of land and then would know what needed to be added or substracted to existing features. Griswold takes us through this process in Bunny's design for the completion of the J.F.K. memorial site in Arlington Cemetery. And she takes us through the documented request from President Kennedy for the White House garden; its design, installation and Bunny’s personal involvement in every aspect of this project. Her expertise often surprised several trained specialists who were involved. All of this came from a woman who had no formal training, but an abundance of curiosity that led to research and study. Among the many things she did throughout her life: she wrote, created illustrations and drawings.
Her money enabled her to achieve perfection in everything that she created. There were eight different homes/residences/estates that she designed, created and managed (Antigua, Nantucket, Oyster Harbors, apartments in Paris and New York, and her main home, Oak Springs Farms in Virginia.) At each residence there were full-time staff, as many as 350 people. At Oak Springs Farms, the staff was comprised of over 100 people who lived on the estate. In addition to the staff who worked and served inside the home, there were full-time painters, iron workers, carpenters, gardeners, arborists and other specialists. This was not an upstairs/downstairs environment. The staff lived in decent homes with wages and benefits to match, and were appreciated for the quality of their work.
Beyond the serious and remarkable, “She falls into a category, deserved or not, of rich and outrageous American women of the twentieth century …” that in her case, “ … must also take into account a certain zaniness." An example of this was in her later years, when she decided that, "I want to make a President." It was her interest in financially promoting U.S. Senator John Edwards for President. There were numerous complications in how she went about this, which resulted in a scandal that Bunny was able to extricate herself from, along with the help of an excellent lawyer.
Great financial privilege does not protect anyone from disappointing personal relationships and tragedy. Her relationship with Paul Mellon was highly charged for several years, and then his eye wandered, and eventually so did hers. They had a relationship that at times was wounding, but there was more to this that engaged them with each other. For Bunny there were momentous personal deaths. The worst was of her daughter Eliza who was the victim of a horrendous traffic accident. For eight years Bunny had 24-hour care for her daughter and sought out all types of treatments to help her daughter recover from full-body paralysis and severe brain injury.
Some of her happiest years included a very close friendship with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. It began when Jackie was the young wife of Senator John F. Kennedy. The two women had a closer relationship with each other than they had with their immediate and extended families. This lasted until Jackie's death.
Towards the end of her life, she received a compliment that brought her to tears because she said, "Nobody really notices what I do." This biography is extensive, lengthy and riveting. Mac Griswold, through her considerable research and captivating narrative, brings Bunny Mellon's life and accomplishments more notice and appreciation.
Reviewed by Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & Fiction
Most widely known as an icon of style, among others she was known as one of the most accomplished landscape architects in the world, and as a horticulturalist, and gardener who actually got her hands in the soil and used clippers to prune various shrubs into submission. She was also a philanthropist and art collector, and lived and created a life of luxury that was not ostentatious. It was a world of Downton Abbey, Gosford Park, and the novels of Edith Wharton. The author Mac Griswold had access to a large collection of private papers, notably Bunny's meticulous daily notebooks and other personal documentation about her work as a landscapist and gardener. The life that Bunny created sounds as well-thought-out and meticulous as the life that the late Queen Elizabeth II orchestrated, at least as much as we know of her world. Griswold states that Bunny had a belief, " ... in beauty as a practical, working construct, a vehicle to another world ... " An implicit aspect of this ethos was beauty that did not call attention to itself. It was a harmonious environment that she had the ability and vision to create, whether it included major works of art that she and Paul Mellon collected and had in their homes, or something that was an everyday object. This was one of her paramount innate talents, which can only be observed, but not taught. Major architects, who worked with her, have remarked that Bunny Mellon had an innate sense of proportion that went beyond measuring spaces and laying out blueprints, because she could visually study a plot of land and then would know what needed to be added or substracted to existing features. Griswold takes us through this process in Bunny's design for the completion of the J.F.K. memorial site in Arlington Cemetery. And she takes us through the documented request from President Kennedy for the White House garden; its design, installation and Bunny’s personal involvement in every aspect of this project. Her expertise often surprised several trained specialists who were involved. All of this came from a woman who had no formal training, but an abundance of curiosity that led to research and study. Among the many things she did throughout her life: she wrote, created illustrations and drawings.
Her money enabled her to achieve perfection in everything that she created. There were eight different homes/residences/estates that she designed, created and managed (Antigua, Nantucket, Oyster Harbors, apartments in Paris and New York, and her main home, Oak Springs Farms in Virginia.) At each residence there were full-time staff, as many as 350 people. At Oak Springs Farms, the staff was comprised of over 100 people who lived on the estate. In addition to the staff who worked and served inside the home, there were full-time painters, iron workers, carpenters, gardeners, arborists and other specialists. This was not an upstairs/downstairs environment. The staff lived in decent homes with wages and benefits to match, and were appreciated for the quality of their work.
Beyond the serious and remarkable, “She falls into a category, deserved or not, of rich and outrageous American women of the twentieth century …” that in her case, “ … must also take into account a certain zaniness." An example of this was in her later years, when she decided that, "I want to make a President." It was her interest in financially promoting U.S. Senator John Edwards for President. There were numerous complications in how she went about this, which resulted in a scandal that Bunny was able to extricate herself from, along with the help of an excellent lawyer.
Great financial privilege does not protect anyone from disappointing personal relationships and tragedy. Her relationship with Paul Mellon was highly charged for several years, and then his eye wandered, and eventually so did hers. They had a relationship that at times was wounding, but there was more to this that engaged them with each other. For Bunny there were momentous personal deaths. The worst was of her daughter Eliza who was the victim of a horrendous traffic accident. For eight years Bunny had 24-hour care for her daughter and sought out all types of treatments to help her daughter recover from full-body paralysis and severe brain injury.
Some of her happiest years included a very close friendship with Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. It began when Jackie was the young wife of Senator John F. Kennedy. The two women had a closer relationship with each other than they had with their immediate and extended families. This lasted until Jackie's death.
Towards the end of her life, she received a compliment that brought her to tears because she said, "Nobody really notices what I do." This biography is extensive, lengthy and riveting. Mac Griswold, through her considerable research and captivating narrative, brings Bunny Mellon's life and accomplishments more notice and appreciation.
Reviewed by Sheryn Morris, Librarian, Literature & Fiction
April 13, 2023
I really enjoyed Griswold's up close view of Bunny's life. I think in anyone else's hands a lot of the "period lens" views would have been lost and corrupted by Griswold does a lovely job of "hey, remember to read this within the context of when this person was raised." I do wish there were more photos in the book and would highly recommend also reading "Garden Secrets of Bunny Mellon" in conjunction with this work for better garden visuals.
May 7, 2023
A comprehensive and detailed biography of Bunny Mellon (1910-2014), socialite, landscape and interior designer, gardener, art collector and very rich woman indeed. Author Mac Griswold knew Bunny Mellon personally, as she was a friend of bunny’s daughter Eliza, and she later became Bunny’s confidante. This naturally adds depth, insight and veracity to her account, but it is obvious she admired Bunny and her chronicle occasionally verges on the hagiographic in spite of her best efforts to remain balanced and impartial. Through her marriage to Paul Mellon, and also thanks to her own personal immense wealth, the couple amassed an enormous collection of art, much of which can now be seen in the major US galleries, a great and lasting legacy. I couldn’t warm to Bunny Mellon at all, although I gained a certain sympathy for her as it soon became evident that her almost immeasurable wealth brought her little happiness or even contentment. She comes across as a lost soul. Her many friendships and romances rarely lasted and although her marriage to Paul Mellon did, it was definitely a troubled relationship. Gifted she certainly was, but a complicated and ultimately tragic figure. For those who delight in gardens, horticulture and garden design, the book will prove a joy, with extensive descriptions of Bunny’s creative endeavours, but personally these passages were of less interest. I was more interested in her social world – Queen Elizabeth II came to tea, Jackie Kennedy became a close friend and Bunny designed the White House Rose Garden for her, and she met many major artists.
Mac Griswold doesn't always observe a strict chronology, making the book a little disjointed and repetitive at times, but overall this is an illuminating and entertaining biography and I very much enjoyed it.
Mac Griswold doesn't always observe a strict chronology, making the book a little disjointed and repetitive at times, but overall this is an illuminating and entertaining biography and I very much enjoyed it.
February 16, 2023
It was said of Bunny Mellon that “she was the greatest landscape gardener and architect in this country. “ Best known in general as the horticulturalist who designed and planted the White House rose garden for Jackie Kennedy, Bunny’s love for gardening, the arts and design touched the lives of many people around the globe. Mac Griswold’s biography, I’ll Build a Stairway to Paradise, is an intimate look into Bunny Mellon’s life. As much as Bunny herself would allow. Having attended school with Mellon’s daughter, Griswold had an organic view and perspective that she has carried with her until finally putting it to print. It’s a beautiful rendition of all that she was and the great impression she left behind.
February 21, 2023
This is a Magnificent volume on the life of Rachel (Bunny) Mellon. Well researched with a description of Mrs. Mellon's life and her style. The author was a close friend of Mrs. Mellon's daughter and, through this connection, became an intimate of Mrs. Mellon. Beautiful photographs, etchings, and a vivid account of a life that was well lived. I have read previous books on Mrs. Mellon, and this book provides additional insight not covered in others. I initially ordered on Kindle; however quickly ordered a hard copy as well, which I am so pleased about. Definitely a book to give as a holiday gift or indeed for one's personal library.
March 24, 2023
This is an entertaining read. Mac Griswold gathered enough details about the life of Bunny Mellon to suit my taste. Being interested in modern U.S. centers of power and Mellon's devotion to gardens, I found the story engrossing and well written. The author is empathetic about the pain Bunny Mellon endured despite her eight homes and 350 servants around the world. She suffered indignities hard for any woman to face. What staggers are the facts around the auction of Mellon possessions, as if we need to be reminded what wealth buys. Just not love.
December 18, 2022
Griswold who was a schoolmate of Mellon has written the definitive biography of Bunny Mellon, the art collector, horticulturalist & gardener. It charts not only the biographical details of her life but also helps map her contributions to public gardens, like those of the White House & Versailles. It is fascinating look at a woman who spent most of her time gardening away from the public eye.
January 13, 2023
A major biography.
Brilliantly written, researched and never boring even for a Swiss immingrant who originally knew nothing about that world. . As an artist I could totally understand Bunny Mellons longing for the sublime,the perfection of beauty .
The last chapters are particularly strong and very moving. I may well want to read it again
Brilliantly written, researched and never boring even for a Swiss immingrant who originally knew nothing about that world. . As an artist I could totally understand Bunny Mellons longing for the sublime,the perfection of beauty .
The last chapters are particularly strong and very moving. I may well want to read it again
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 19, 2023
The author organized this more by subject and activity - rather than chronology.
Oddly this left me less than fully engaged, as there were few less potential for anticipating coming sections and what would be closure..
Oddly this left me less than fully engaged, as there were few less potential for anticipating coming sections and what would be closure..
February 12, 2023
This book is essential to buy, keep, and refer to for the rest of your graphic design career, trust me!
The Unglitch
www.unglitch.io
The Unglitch
www.unglitch.io
March 1, 2023
Very much enjoyed the book - I have been interested in her life and read some other books about her style and gardens. This seems to more about her as a person rather than only about her designs.
June 28, 2023
Tedious.
Read
April 9, 2024The author knew the subject, which is wonderful in some ways, if there was, perhaps, not enough reflection of the way obscene wealth can just warp your sense of reality.
April 4, 2023
Read only the chapters about the OSGF's library; chapters 15 and 16.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews