The Transatlantic Marriage Bureau; Husband Hunting in the Gilded Age: How American Heiresses Conquered the Aristocracy

by Julie Ferry

In 1895 nine American heiresses travelled across the Atlantic and bagged themselves husbands and titles. Though this phenomena had been happening for many years, 1895 was undoubtedly the most successful one for the unofficial marriage brokers Lady Minnie Paget and Consuelo Yzanga, Duchess of Manchester. For the English gentlemen the girls married it was a way to sustain their land, houses and all of the trappings of aristocracy. For the girls, who came from new money and were therefore not part of the American social elite, marriage was a means to obtaining the social prestige they craved. The Transatlantic Marriage Bureau will romp through the year to tell the story of these women – the seasons, the parties, the money and the titles - always with one eye on the remarkable women who made it happen behind the scenes.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Historical, Biography, British Literature, Edwardian, American History

320 pages, Hardcover

First published February 9, 2017

About the author

Julie Ferry is the author of The Transatlantic Marriage Bureau, a non-fiction book following he American heiresses that married into the aristocracy in 1895. She graduated from Cardiff University with a degree in English Literature and then upped sticks and moved to a tiny island between Japan and South Korea to teach English, where she quickly got used to being followed around the supermarket by her students. It was in Japan that she got her first byline and was quickly hooked. She was a freelance journalist writing for The Guardian and most of her favourite publications but always harboured dreams of seeing her name on the front of a book. Now, she’s managing to combine her love of writing and an obsession with interesting and largely unknown women from history, with the school run in Bristol, where she lives with her husband and two children.

Reviews

[Cathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Million Dollar Duchesses focuses on the events of a single year – 1895 – in which a number of transatlantic marriages took place between wealthy American heiresses and not so wealthy but titled British aristocrats.   Unfortunately for the participants, very few were love matches but more akin to business transactions, negotiated by a select band of very influential society ladies, including the redoubtable Alva Vanderbilt, Consuelo Manchester and Minnie Paget.

Manoeuvring young American heiresses into situations where they could encounter potential marriage partners was a strategic operation.  ‘All of London society was a convoluted and never-ending performance.  The unremitting rounds of formal functions were littered with the great and the good of the aristocracy, whom Minnie saw simply as props to be manoeuvred into the best position to produce a breathtaking show.’  It was also a lucrative, albeit clandestine, business for these society ‘matchmakers’, who would be rewarded with gifts or might have their dressmaker’s or milliner’s accounts settled by grateful relatives.

I came across some fascinating nuggets of information in the book, such as the fact that those fortunate enough to have the Prince of Wales stay with them would be obliged to install in their home a ‘Post Office to meet his communication needs’.   I was also frankly in awe of the stamina of these society ladies who not only underwent up to six changes of outfit a day during the Season but were expected to attend a dizzying round of activities.  For example, the ‘strict timetable’ of a day in the summer Season at Newport, Rhode Island might involve breakfast, dealing with correspondence, a morning call at the Casino for tennis or bowling, bathing at the exclusive Bailey’s Beach, luncheon on a yacht moored in the harbour, an afternoon carriage parade, visits to other ladies followed by preparing for the evening’s formal dinner party or ball and then dancing the night away.   On the other hand, I could not admire the vast sums of money spent on flowers, gifts, jewellery and dresses that might only be worn once, which seemed to verge on the grotesque.  No, actually, it was grotesque.

As the author notes, at a time when ‘men were rulers of Wall Street and women were discouraged from asserting themselves in business or politics, marriage was their only route to power’.  I have to say I was left with the impression that, in many cases, the women featured were more intelligent, cultured and accomplished than the supposedly eligible bachelors they were destined to marry and might well have proved equal to those men in business or politics.

We talk today about ‘celebrity culture’ but I also found it interesting that scrutiny by the media of these society figures seemed as prevalent then as it is today and that there was a degree of mutual dependence.  The great society ladies needed their entertainments, costume balls and the like to be featured in the newspapers and gossip columns of the day to confirm their position in society.  ‘It was a chance to be seen by reporters, society watchers and the general public.  An opportunity to be talked about, written about and remain a constant presence in public consciousness.’   Finding and sustaining your position in the ‘pecking order’ was a competitive endeavour worthy of the Olympic Games!

The book is clearly the product of extensive research by the author, as witnessed by the comprehensive notes and detailed bibliography at the end of the book.  Also included is a helpful dramatis personae and family trees of the key players.   The book includes quotes from contemporary newspaper articles, gossip columns, letters and memoirs although the author freely admits that there are limited primary sources because many of the heiresses’ personal recollections have not survived, possibly because they were deliberately destroyed after their deaths.    From time to time, the author indulges in speculation about the feelings and emotions of some of the characters meaning those sections are sprinkled with phrases such as ‘must have’, ‘would have’ and ‘in all probability’.

The Million Dollar Duchesses is a fascinating insight into the lives of women who changed the face of British society at the end of the 19th century and inspired fictional counterparts in novels such as Edith Wharton’s The Buccaneers and The House of Mirth. (3.5 stars)

[Liz Barnsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Julie Ferry covers a fascinating period of social history here, one to be honest I knew very little (nothing) about when I went into this. But I was utterly riveted by these American girls who left home to marry into the English aristocracy and by Minne and Consuelo who made it happen.

I can imagine anyone who watched and enjoyed Downtown Abbey as a fictional show would enjoy this book, which gives an insight into a time when rich girls propped up failing estates and bagged themselves a touch of class in the meantime. I found myself trying to wrap my head around the concept whilst being engaged all the way.

Money does not buy happiness and whilst some of these “arranged” marriages worked out, others brought heartache, the author does a good job of capturing the nuances, bringing to life the “gilded age” and telling it in a very accessible and interesting way.

Stretched my reading wings this one did, it really was an intriguing and faux glamorous period of time.

Recommended,

[Roman Clodia · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Love is bourgeois; only the lower classes and fools marry for love. We are learning better in America - nowadays our marriages are arranged'

Following one year, 1895, this traces transatlantic marriages as wealthy American heiresses barter their wealth to marry into cash-strapped English aristocratic families. The names are familiar: Churchill, Cunard, Astor, Vanderbilt but while this is an interesting topic, the book is surprisingly dry.

As the author herself says in her epilogue, there are few primary sources other than some original newspapers and gossip columns so much of this is re-hashed from other books and secondary sources. The result is something that feels detached and distant from the characters supposedly at the heart of the book. Too often this reads like an undergraduate dissertation: I wanted more life, gossip, sparkle.

This provides some of the real-life stories behind the novels of Henry James and Edith Wharton, especially the latter's The Buccaneers - interesting topic but an unexpectedly laborious read.

Review from an ARC from Amazon Vine

[Karen Mace · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating and lavish look at a year in which the world of Aristocracy in England was given an injection of money and glamour with the introduction of American heiresses who were looking to be part of the world of titles and history.

For many that lifestyle wasn't what they imagined it to be, and this book brought to life the stories behind high society and how the introduction of new money from America helped save many of the crumbling country piles across England and is an illuminating look at some high profile names and families.

It's a great look behind the scenes of how these marriages were 'arranged' especially with some families doing anything thing necessary to get invites to the most important society balls, and how these events captured the imaginations of those both sides of the pond in the pages of the media.

There were a number of photos too which gave you another glimpse into the lives of these people, my only gripe is that there wasn't more! I'm just nosey and would have loved to have seen more photos of the characters, the houses they lived in etc, but as this book grabbed my interest so much I have found myself searching out images online to give me more of a glimpse into these worlds!

With the forthcoming royal wedding approaching fast, this book is the perfect read for all those who love the glamour and the history of a remarkable time and gives you an amazing insight into some amazing characters.

[Joanne Robertson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was about 9 I watched an ITV series called Jennie starring Lee Remick which was based on the life of Jenny Jerome, an American heiress who married into the British Aristocracy and gave birth to Winston Churchill. I was quite an obsessive child and I immediately wanted to know everything about this woman and that period in time where so many rich American women were adapting to a different lifestyle here in the UK. And that was why I was keen to read more about the women who helped to set up some of those more high profile matches. This book concentrates on one year 1895 and how the seasonal social events of that year led to those unions.

I actually took over a week to read this which is a long time for a speed reader like myself. But this isn’t a book to be rushed as it has a huge amount of detail and names that needs to be slowly digested to understand the complex relationships that entwined the main players here. We follow Lady Minnie Paget and Consuelo Yzanga as well as Alva Vanderbilt, who is desperate to make a good match for her daughter Consuelo even thought it isn’t what she wants. But both sides were seen to win here, the girls got their titles and the aristocracy got the girls rather hefty dowries to prop up their shabby estates.

This is a well researched book backed up by historical references and family trees so that you’re able to cross reference what you’re reading and research further if you so wish. I liked the authors writing style and the brief fictional descriptions or suppositions of how they could have been acting around the time of these events, which made me wonder why she hadn’t attempted a fictional account of the time which I think would have worked just as well. It reminded me of Lady Cora in Downton Abbey and made me surmise that Julian Fellows had certainly done some research of this phenomenon when he was recreating an aristocratic families dynamics at Downton!

I think this book will appeal to a variety of readers especially those with a fascination for this period of time or with the works of Edith Wharton which are occasionally quoted here. It’s not a book to rush but one to immerse yourself in fully while experiencing this historical curiosity that changed the family trees of some of Britain’s most influential figures.

[Lynn · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars rounded down.

During the Gilded Age, it became customary for wealthy American heiresses to be married off to British and European aristocrats. The families, mostly their mothers, wanted their daughters to have the social cachet of an aristocratic title and the grooms needed the in influx of American wealth to be able to maintain their estates which were in disrepair and their fortunes, which were dwindling. Many of the American society, women turned to marriage,m brokers: society women who had the right connections and could make the proper introductions. Chief among these were Consuelo Manchester, who herself had married a Duke, and Marietta Paget and her daughter Minnie. These were society women whose own fortunes were precarious, and they were able to support themselves by making these matches. One major downside of these matches was that the marriages were often miserable, with the bride and groom barely knowing each other before the wedding. Many an 18-year-old bride was virtually sold off to a stranger in exchange for a title that she may not have even wanted, bringing with her an enormous dowry. Often times these marriages ended in eventual divorce, after producing the required “heir and a spare.”

This book, although at times interesting, is mind numbing in its telling and retelling of these matches. The ultimate match was between Consuelo Vanderbilt, and Sunny, the Duke of Marlborough, as plotted by her mother Alva Vanderbilt. (I can see why people feel that Bertha Russell in The Gilded Age TV series is modeled on Alva Vanderbilt and Gladys Russell’s wedding was modeled on Consuelo’s.)

There is a never-ending litany of society people, the lavish balls they threw, their sumptuous fashions, and the magnificent houses they built. These people had an obscene amount of money and they spent it in frivolous and ridiculous ways, just like the uber-wealthy do today, but even more so.

Eventually, the narrative of all this wealth and all these marriages became tedious, and this was almost a DNF for me. It just became too much work to keep track of everyone. I suppose the Gilded Age was a great time to be wealthy, but these people were beyond self indulgent, and just threw their vast wealth away on frivolous things. As someone who is not impressed by wealth or power, the constant clamoring to be a part of the elite of society and one-up each other is absurd. As noted before, the narrative can be mind numbing, and the writing is very dry. It’s books like this that make you want to turn to historical fiction, which tells you how it felt to live in those times, as opposed to non-fiction which sometimes just spews a lot of dry facts. I had hoped that this book would be more interesting, but sadly it was not.

[Marguerite Kaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
I first heard of the 'phenomenon' of America's heiresses marrying into the British aristocracy through Edith Wharton's book, the Buccaneers. When researching Her Heart for a Compass for the book with the Duchess of York, I had another of Wharton's books, Age of Innocence, in the back of my mind - I'd always thought she exaggerated the strict code that ruled New York society, but I was wrong. So what happened to the new money wannabees whom Mrs Astor turned away? I hoped this book would tell me more.

It did. From the early days, when Jennie Churchill (Winston's mother) and Minnie Paget led the way, through the rush of American heiress brides in the 1890s, this book covered the whole story. How were the women introduced to the men whose inheritance they would prop up? What was in it for them? Why did they choose England over America? And what put an end to the weddings? All of this was covered extremely well - and I had no idea that there were so many! So far so good. But...

Firstly, I found the chronology quite challenging. The book jumped back and forward in time, so I had to keep checking were we were, who had married who - and personally speaking, I would have much preferred a linear timeline.

Secondly, like the author, I was frustrated at the lack of personal evidence of how successful - or miserable - the marriages were. Were the brides aware of the challenges they would face? Were they up for the marriage in the first place? Aside from Consuela Vanderbilt, whose biography must be questionable, there's very little first-hand evidence of any of this. And there's even less from the husbands involved. How did they feel about selling themselves for the good of their inheritance? This wasn't a failing of the author, I hasten to point out, but of the evidence, so maybe I'm judging the book a bit harshly - but I wanted to know more.

And finally, the question the book askes on the cover - how did America's heiresses seduce the aristocracy? With money, is the obvious answer, but this 'seduced' only the immediate families they married into. Did 'society' ever accept them? I wanted to know more.

But this book definitely whetted my appetite. It's an excellent jumping off point. Now I just have to dive deeper...

[Genna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this, and learned things I did not know.

Kinda bursts the bubble of the romantic vision of marrying into royalty, which is probably a useful bubble to burst.

[Lois · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was ok.
This is very much written like fiction with thoughts and feelings the author couldn't have been privy to.
In addition the research is faulty or the claims are greatly exaggerated.
The Commodore (Vanderbilt) grew up in a family wealthy enough that his MOTHER gave him $100 cash. At the time this exchange occurred the US was a fairly cash poor nation. That's a lot of money for a woman to have control of if the family was poor or lived poverty.
This is not to negate that The Commodore had a knack for business and was very hardworking. He was also cheap, he never financially supported his wife or kids which is extremely odd for this time period especially given his considerable wealth.
He also stole from people who invested with him. His great wealth was largely built through theft. Hence his title as the first Robber Baron🤷🏽‍♀️
Most of the Robber Baron ls made their fortunes as war profiteers during The Civil War. They are unscrupulous horrible folks.
Also the author pretends that all of the people who live in the US are white people. She goes as far as to talk about 'ethic tensions' at the historical height of lynching and not mention Black folks🙄

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting & fascinating slice of Gilded Age history, but after the first 100 pages, it ends up feeling very much the same kind of story, repeated ad nauseum. Eventually, you can only tell the same story in a certain number of ways before the threat of boredom sets in. And why does Mrs Astor never get a first name?

[Juliet Bookliterati · Rating 5 out of 5]

As most of my regular readers know I love history, but it has been a while since I read historical non fiction, probably due to time constraints. The Million Dollar Duchesses was therefore a pleasure to read, plus I got to read it in my garden due to the recent good weather.

The Million Dollar Duchesses referred to in the title are the young American heiresses who came to England looking for marriage and a title at the end of the nineteenth century. To put this in context, between 1873 – 1896 there was a dramatic fall in grain prices which meant a lot of the landed gentry lost a lot of money and could no longer employ labourers and had to sell many of their possessions, like their art collections, to survive. The British Aristocracy needed money to continue to live in their grand houses and live the life they were accustomed. This is where the American Heiresses came in, they had the money to restore these stately homes and ensure that the Dukes and Lords could continue with their country living.

Julie Ferry has obviously done a lot of research for this book, her footnotes and photographs really add to the enjoyment of this book. It is full of detail and the chapters follow the stories of many of these women, their origins, their education and subsequently their marriages. A lot of these women came from ‘new money’ which was frowned upon in American society so came to Europe with their families to further their education and enter the social scene of the British upper classes. It seems the British upper classes were willing to welcome the new money, probably out of necessity. What is surprising is that there was money to be made in the business of introducing these young American women to single males of the aristocracy. Minnie Paget, who was a favourite of Bertie, the Prince of Wales, was at the forefront of this. She would be paid large sums by the mothers of these girls to introduce them to the right people and get them to the best events. There are plenty of famous names whose were party to this type of marriage including;Vanderbuilt, Curzon, Cunard, Astor and Churchill.

This is a fascinating read, with its insights into the machinations of the upper classes of both America and England, and just who was and was not accepted into society. If you didn’t fit you were left out in the cold, especially in America where new money was not acceptable in New York high society. The sums of money paid on houses, clothes and dowries was huge, and the mothers of these girls were ruthless in their pursuit of a titled husband. But, as the saying goes, money doesn’t always make you happiness. Not all the women were willing participants, and had to get use to a completely different life in England and see their money spent on gambling and in some cases mistresses. I can see why Julie Ferry wanted this book released leading up to the Royal Wedding. But in this case I think it is safe to say that HRH Prince Harry is not marrying Meghan Markle for her money.

Million Dollar Duchesses is a fairly short read at just over 300 pages, and is quite a light read. I found it riveting, with wonderful and colourful historical characters. I thoroughly enjoyed being a voyeur of the social scene in both America and England; the costume balls, the jewellery, the decorations and the plotting and scheming behind the scenes. A great inside look into the rich and titled.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

"The American girl comes along, prettier than her English sister, full of dash and snap, and go, sprightly, dazzling, and audacious."

Written by Julie Ferry, The Transatlantic Marriage Bureau is a work of nonfiction centering on one specific year during the Gilded Age where transatlantic marriages--marriages taking places between American heiresses and English aristocrats--were at a fever pitch. In The Transatlantic Marriage Bureau, Ferry explains the impetus behind these marriages, how they were arranged, and the results of these unions. The stories of specific heiresses and aristocrats who got married during 1895, the height of the trend, are explored, allowing the reader to understand the various emotions, loves, and struggles of the people engaging in these unions and their families.

Julie Ferry does a good job of making each player in both the American upper-class and the British nobility come alive. She even includes a reference collection of the who is who within her text. She paints in depth portraits of people like Minnie Paget, and Consuelo, Dowager Duchess of Manchester, whom had a lucrative business in helping young American heiresses as they were introduced into English society. Together the two women would plot and plan how to introduce each girl they took on to the proper duke or earl in order to insure that more and more heiresses would seek their assistance. Especially compelling is Ferry's account of Consuelo Vanderbilt (the namesake of the aforementioned Duchess), who is pressured by her controlling mother to make a successful aristocratic marriage to propel her rich American family to even higher heights of social success.

I found Ferry's work informative and interesting, and surprisingly a quick read at about 270 pages. She tries to help the reader keep every player in society identifiable, and includes not only pictures, but also a guide for people, and family trees. It was enlightening to read about a little known area of American history, and see how better known historical figures like Edith Wharton, and Edward VII were connected or influenced the process of transatlantic marriages. Ferry's writing and coverage of the subject is clear and informative and by focusing even on just one year in history she is able to make the reader understand the ins and outs of this interesting practice in history.

[Sterlingcindysu · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 rounded down. This was a bit on the dry side considering how much was written about parties, dinners, masquerade balls, etc during the Glided Age. Over 100 American heiresses married into the aristocracy and their money boosted the (mostly British) lands and castles. Over $220,000,000 was estimated flowing out of the US for these marriages.

Of course few were based on love. The most famous of them, Consuelo Vanderbilt who ended up a Duchess, was divorced with her mother testifying that she ordered her daughter to wed. I'm sure that was after the Duke spent her dowry of $15,000,000.



One thing I didn't know was not only did Edith Wharton write about this time, but was actually engaged to one of the main characters' brother and even asked her to proof her novels for accuracy.

Probably the one American heiress everyone thinks of is Cora Crawley, Countess of Grantham of Downton Abbey.



So much excess of clothes and flowers! Empress Eugenie, of the French court of 1870 insisted that nobody wear the same dress twice!

By the end I had several characters mixed up, especially the mother-daughter teams and the two Consuelos involved. Yes, one was named after the other who was her godmother.

[Hannah (TheSeferSisters) · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The hazy gauze of youthful innocence had been lifted, with the whole society scene crystal-clear to her now, yet none of that first flush of euphoria born from committing to and conquering London during the summer had disappeared."

The Million Dollar Duchesses by Julie Ferry is an exquisitely written account of the extravagant transatlantic marriages that swept through the Gilded Age to the rescue of financially ailing British society and America's emerging dynasties. Ms. Ferry masterfully weaves the interlacing stories of the "marriage brokers," once transatlantic brides themselves and fondly named the Buccaneers (a term coined by Edith Wharton in her last published work), with those of the American "dollar princesses" who looked to exhange their glittering millions for the glamour of ravishing English aristocratic titles.

It was an immense pleasure to read this work and become immersed in the decadence, heartaches, and triumphs of the Million Dollar Duchesses. After turning the last page, I was so engaged in the stories that I couldn't help but wish I could read more about the lives of these young women and even watch a film/tv adaptation of Ms. Ferry's fantastically researched work. I can't recommend The Million Dollar Duchesses enough and especially to fellow admirers of Edith Wharton and Downton Abbey!

[Thebooktrail · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rich and looking for a husband? Visit The Transatlantic Marriage Bureau Marriage Bureau

The Transatlantic Marriage Bureau is the story of one year in the life of the English aristocracy. The names of these American ladies will be familiar –  Consuelo Vanderbilt, Washington society heiress Mary Leiter who married  Lord Curzon and became the Vicereine of India, Maud Burke, vivacious San Francisco belle with a questionable background.

Imagine travelling across the ocean to meet the man you would marry and the family you wold marry into? It’s quite a story and true which makes it remarkable in so many ways. Some of these marriages worked out but most of them did not – they brought money and fame but left loneliness, infidelity, bankruptcy and divorce.

There were many homes restored as a result of this practice – Blenheim Palace was desperate for a new roof for example and it was the Vanderbilt money which made this possible – exchange for marriage and a title. New marriages, new hope and new life for stately homes up and down the country, but inside the facade was crumbling.

You do learn a lot from this book. Marrying for money is not all it’s cracked up to be.

[Alistair · Rating 3 out of 5]

1895 was the apogee in transatlantic alliances, and this fascinating book covers that year in detail, following a group of American heiresses in search of, at least social standing, and more probably a title.
London's Season was THE one to be prominently seen, trumping the New York equivalent, and marriage was a constant preoccupation. Socially ambitious New Moneyed Americans found it easier to storm the citadel of London's society than the carefully guarded New York upper echelons lead by the formidable Mrs. Astor.
For some of these young American women it would not be a happy experience. Take, for example, the accomplished, beautiful Consuelo Vanderbilt, only daughter of Alva and Willie 'K'. Determined that Consuelo (and the Vanderbilt fortune) deserved no less than a Duke, she set her sights on Sunny, 9th Duke of Marlborough, owner of Blenheim Palace. It mattered little that Consuelo had fallen in love with Winthrop Rutherfurd, and he with her. To prevent further contact with Winthrop, Alva kept Consuelo a virtual prisoner, forbidding her to meet or correspond with Winthrop; destroyed correspondence intended for Consuelo, and servants were instructed not to admit entrance to Winthrop. Ultimately Alva got her way, and Sunny and Consuelo were married, the bride fortunately wearing a bridal veil sufficient to conceal her puffy eyes from a morning crying.

[Brianne Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting look at a pivotal year in the lives of many of the 'Dollar Princesses' who made the journey from the US to Britain in order to become part of (and financially prop up) the aristocracy. My only real issue is the book's sloppy editing: there were passages that were confusing, as the same person was referred to using different names/titles (which was odd, because this was before she even had a title), and in one case the same person seemed to be referred to as being both married and not--in the same paragraph. Also, someone seriously needed to run a basic spell check on this before it was published. Names are spelled differently (again, in the same paragraph) and I'm pretty sure the word 'indeed' as two 'e's'. Sorry to be that person, but this sort of thing bugs me.

Like I said, though, an interesting overview that will probably make you want to dive a little deeper into the lives of some of these women and the people around them. For those interested in further reading, I'd definitely recommend Consuelo and Alva Vanderbilt: The Story of a Daughter and a Mother in the Gilded Age by Amanda Mackenzie Stuart. It's a fascinating deep-dive into the complex relationship between two very different and very interesting women.

[Adele · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don’t tend to read many factual books but I was fascinated by Julie Ferry’s The Million Dollar Duchesses. In a way the book almost felt like a story from a Hollywood script with its glamour, scandal, tragedy and nouveau riches. The book highlights a specific year, 1895, that started off the invasion of young American ladies; highly educated ladies with their own dowry seeking the employs of a ‘society matron’ to guide them into English society with the sole interest in wedding a member of the English aristocracy. These ‘society matrons’ with which one of the major players was Minnie Paget, orchestrated a very strategic game of chess with people as pawns being moved into position to make the best possible first impression. It was a business of strategic introductions, a secret transaction for an employ that was economically beneficial to all parties.
I loved the phrase “social godmother” that the author Julie Ferry used to describe these conductors of English social etiquette. The “social godmothers” were quite manipulative and gained much from their machinations including the friendship of the Prince of Wales (Bertie) as he loved the grand gestures from the heiresses and was in attendance at many of their extravagant parties. It almost sounded like a game of one-upmanship as heiresses tried to out-do each other in their tasks of entertaining the fun loving prince.
Sadly tragedy, scandal and gossip followed some of the young proteges. Their new married lives started off with such great promise but life was to throw many hardships their way.
An interesting, quite fascinating read into a year that the business of people became a highly effective profession for many and has left a defined mark on the English aristocratic history we know of today.

[Milly · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 * It's an account of the transatlantic marriages that took place during 1895, the Gilded Age in New York, between american heiresses and british nobility; and the extravagant spending involved. They were marriages brokered by influential society ladies, between self-made new millionaires seeking acceptance into the very exclusive, old money, New York high society, ruled by Mrs Astor and british titled aristocrats who were no longer able to afford the upkeep of their properties and their lifestyle. The most notorious being the one between Consuelo Vanderbilt and Sunny, 9th Duke of Marlborough. It includes quotes from biographers, newspapers, magazines, memoirs, and other publications. It was an interesting read with a few tedious parts where the author gets too deep into naming all the prominent people around the couples and their families, which might get a little bit tiresome after the first part of the book; but on the upside the epilogue narrates what happened to theses marriages and their participants, so you do get the ending of all the stories

[Lauren Link · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Transatlantic Marriage Bureau tells the story of some of the most glamorous Dollar Princesses who traded their family's fortune for a title. Naturally, the star attraction was poor Consuelo Vanderbilt who was forced into a marriage to the Duke of Marlborough by her domineering mother.

I really enjoyed learning about Consuelo, the Duchess of Manchester and Minnie Stevens who used their status as members of the Marlborough House set to help other American debutants make successful marriages. While the book was well written I found the layout somewhat disconcerting as the book was not written in chronological order, This was such a shame as it made the book feel very disorganised and in some places, the book was hard to follow.

Overall, I really enjoyed the book and the creative licence the author used to make the subjects feel more human and I highly recommend the book for fans of the Gilded Age and Downton Abbey.

[Beverly Hollandbeck · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well-written and well-researched, but the stories are so repetitive that it is hard to keep them juggled in the brain, especially when the names are also repeated, like Consuelo and Minnie and Mary. Each story: very rich but socially unacceptable mother contacts Minnie or Consuelo who are Americans in London to arrange for their daughter to meet and eventually marry an impoverished Briton with a title. Marriage occurs, the teenaged bride returns to England with her husband, a stranger to her, and spends most of her life - until her husband dies - in misery.

[SALLY WHITE · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Goodreads for sending me this book. I really enjoyed this book. It was both interesting and fascinating. During the 1800’s American heiresses were very keen to gain themselves aristocratic titles and therefore travelled across the Atlantic to fulfil this need. Lots of the marriages were doomed to failure. The author has certainly done her research and because of this, has produced a book that is well worth a read.

[Katherine Kappelmann · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was an interesting and enjoyable read about the Gilded Age and the Dollar Princesses. Unfortunately, I felt like the author did not clearly define the scope of the book of her project. It seemed to just examine one year of the "marriage market" and a few key figures and matches within that year, as opposed to being a more comprehensive overview like the title indicated. In addition,
I found the writing style to be rather uneven and inconsistent.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

A look at how young American women became part of the sometimes impoverished English aristocracy- and not always happily. In some cases, these women helped shape the future of their adopted country, not that they were probably aware of that then. Also interesting to note how far some families (or should I say mothers) would go to ensure a wedding.

[Hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is okay. Not what I expected, I’m not huge on the way it was written, the story was being spoken at me rather than telling the story of these women and their marriages. An interesting time period though.

[Shelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is a fascination of mine to understand the makings of dynastic families in our culture. This book was interesting as it looked at the crossover between American new money and the push for acceptance and something that money can’t buy - being part of history.

[Suse · Rating 3 out of 5]

interesting…

Sometimes seemed to cover the same facts multiple times? It’s too bad these bright, hopeful young American women were manipulated by their families and titled husbands.

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great fun!

[Vanessa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Transatlantic Marriage Bureau chronicles a whirlwind year of the American heiresses:Consuelo Vanderbilt, Consuelo Yzanga and Minnie Stevens. After failing to impress the infamous Four Hundred and New York Society, the heiresses took their chances across the pond in London to secure marriages with a titled but indebted aristocrats.
The book off interesting but towards the end I got tired of reading about so and so’s daughter marrying lord so and so.

[Nada Al-Karmi · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was interesting and informative. Sometimes, it dragged on. However, it contained a wealth of information about that period.