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Double Exposure: A Twin Autobiography
In 1921 there burst upon the New York social scene the famous Morgan twins, Thelma and Gloria, whose names in the decade that followed came to spell glamour and excitement in that magic world of the “international set.” Two continents thrilled to Thelma Furness’s romances with Richard Bennett, Lord Furness, the Prince of Wales, Aly Khan, and Edmund Lowe. The whole world followed with bated breath the searing custody trial over young Gloria that pitted mother against daughter and shook the Vanderbilts and society. While much has been written from the outside about all of this, the two principals have never before disclosed the real truth behind the rumors and the headlines. And exciting as are their personal adventures and escapades, their story is also a portrait of an era.
In every age there have been certain women who through a combination of beauty and personality have attracted the love and admiration of rich or famous men, and who seem to be the embodiments of the feminine charm of the period. The Edwardian era had its Lily Langtry, the Napoleonic its Josephine, the eighteenth century its Du Barry and its Lady Hamilton—and so on back to antiquity. In our time, among those women who have come close to fitting this role are Lady Furness and Gloria Vanderbilt.
From childhood each had the elusive qualities that characterize the femme fatale. Both knew the love of many men, both suffered deeply, and now both have happily risen above the vicissitudes of their checkered careers and face the future with gallantry, humor, and without rancor or bitterness over the past. In this spirit, and with all sincerity, they have set down the story of their lives.
In Double Exposure, we are given a matchless picture of life among the great—and the near-great—in the now-vanished world between the two wars. Above all, we come to know the minds and hearts and philosophy of life and love of two fascinating women, and something of the nature of fascination itself.
In every age there have been certain women who through a combination of beauty and personality have attracted the love and admiration of rich or famous men, and who seem to be the embodiments of the feminine charm of the period. The Edwardian era had its Lily Langtry, the Napoleonic its Josephine, the eighteenth century its Du Barry and its Lady Hamilton—and so on back to antiquity. In our time, among those women who have come close to fitting this role are Lady Furness and Gloria Vanderbilt.
From childhood each had the elusive qualities that characterize the femme fatale. Both knew the love of many men, both suffered deeply, and now both have happily risen above the vicissitudes of their checkered careers and face the future with gallantry, humor, and without rancor or bitterness over the past. In this spirit, and with all sincerity, they have set down the story of their lives.
In Double Exposure, we are given a matchless picture of life among the great—and the near-great—in the now-vanished world between the two wars. Above all, we come to know the minds and hearts and philosophy of life and love of two fascinating women, and something of the nature of fascination itself.
350 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1958
About the author
Gloria Morgan Vanderbilt
2 booksGloria Morgan Vanderbilt was an American socialite and mother of fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 60 reviews
March 18, 2019
Gloria & Thelma Morgan were identical twin dtrs of
Harry, a diplomat: Consul General to Switzerland,
Holland, Spain, Germany, Brussels, Venezuela. And
special assignments to Cuba and other locales. They
had 2 other sibs & their mercurial mother, Laura.
On one level, the girls matured earlier, due to the
nature of dad's work, on another they still showed
naivete.
All three sisters: Consuela, Gloria & Thelma wed at age
16 or 17. The twins sent a wire to a ship, pretending to
be their dad, having their names added to the manifest
for a US-bound ship during WW1. The parents called
this trip too dangerous for the girls. After learning of
the deception, Harry laughed, thought the twins clever,
& let them travel.
Gloria, 17 years old, wed divorced 40-something Reggie
Vanderbilt. A love match. Reggie had already gone through
a $5M inheritance & later lived off the interest from a $5M
trust. They had baby Gloria and then suddenly Reggie died.
Glo, was too young (20) to apply to be Gloria Jr.'s guardian.
Laura criticized Glo in front of her dtr & made wild, untrue
accusations. Glo trusted too much the men chosen to over-
see her baby's 1/2 trust portion.
Later the Vanderbilts and Gloria's mom started a custody
case, allegedly calling Gloria an unfit mom & they won.
Glo now had limited custody of her dtr. Many yrs later,
Gloria Jr had a clothing line & offspring of her own, in-
cluding CNN's Anderson Cooper. One photo in the book
showed Gloria Sr. in her youth, as a 'dead-ringer' for
Anderson.
Thelma wed a man she barely knew, Jr Converse (they div-
orced), then a viscount: Marmaduke "Duke" Furness, then
had an affair x3 yrs w/ Edward, Prince of Wales. He later
became the king who abdicated his thrown for divorcee Mrs.
Simpson. She tried to justify the affair while still married
to Duke.
Glo and Thelma, traveled often by boat or plane (both coasts
of US & various European capitols), tended to leave offspring
behind, wore beautiful clothes/ jewels. Met famous & society
folks. But what was the purpose of their lives?What did they
do for others? Thelma & Duke went on an African safari and
returned w/ 2 zebras as pets. Really? London Zoo eventually
received zebras as gifts. The twins tended to make decisions
'on the fly' & then pondered how did they get to this point?
Harry, a diplomat: Consul General to Switzerland,
Holland, Spain, Germany, Brussels, Venezuela. And
special assignments to Cuba and other locales. They
had 2 other sibs & their mercurial mother, Laura.
On one level, the girls matured earlier, due to the
nature of dad's work, on another they still showed
naivete.
All three sisters: Consuela, Gloria & Thelma wed at age
16 or 17. The twins sent a wire to a ship, pretending to
be their dad, having their names added to the manifest
for a US-bound ship during WW1. The parents called
this trip too dangerous for the girls. After learning of
the deception, Harry laughed, thought the twins clever,
& let them travel.
Gloria, 17 years old, wed divorced 40-something Reggie
Vanderbilt. A love match. Reggie had already gone through
a $5M inheritance & later lived off the interest from a $5M
trust. They had baby Gloria and then suddenly Reggie died.
Glo, was too young (20) to apply to be Gloria Jr.'s guardian.
Laura criticized Glo in front of her dtr & made wild, untrue
accusations. Glo trusted too much the men chosen to over-
see her baby's 1/2 trust portion.
Later the Vanderbilts and Gloria's mom started a custody
case, allegedly calling Gloria an unfit mom & they won.
Glo now had limited custody of her dtr. Many yrs later,
Gloria Jr had a clothing line & offspring of her own, in-
cluding CNN's Anderson Cooper. One photo in the book
showed Gloria Sr. in her youth, as a 'dead-ringer' for
Anderson.
Thelma wed a man she barely knew, Jr Converse (they div-
orced), then a viscount: Marmaduke "Duke" Furness, then
had an affair x3 yrs w/ Edward, Prince of Wales. He later
became the king who abdicated his thrown for divorcee Mrs.
Simpson. She tried to justify the affair while still married
to Duke.
Glo and Thelma, traveled often by boat or plane (both coasts
of US & various European capitols), tended to leave offspring
behind, wore beautiful clothes/ jewels. Met famous & society
folks. But what was the purpose of their lives?What did they
do for others? Thelma & Duke went on an African safari and
returned w/ 2 zebras as pets. Really? London Zoo eventually
received zebras as gifts. The twins tended to make decisions
'on the fly' & then pondered how did they get to this point?
November 27, 2019
Though electronic versions of this joint autobiography of ‘the Morgan twins’ is available, I find it sad that it is now long out of print in hard copy. What a delicious peek it is into the world of Europe and America’s high society of the 1920’s to 40’s!
Gloria Vanderbilt (Senior – mother to the ‘Poor Little Rich Girl’ Gloria who passed away earlier this year) and her identical twin sister Thelma (pronounced as in the Spanish: ‘Telma’) Viscountess Furness began life ‘on the Continent’, daughters of the peripatetic and well-connected couple, Laura and Harry Hays Morgan, a career diplomat.
Gloria is best known for the scandalous custody case trial for little Gloria of 1934 that pitted her against her sister-in-law Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and her own mother who painted her as an unfit parent. Thelma, on the other hand, having reached the echelons of British society after her marriage to shipping baron Viscount Marmaduke “Duke” Furness, became the mistress of Edward, Prince of Wales. These sisters did nothing by halves!
The insights into life behind aristocratic closed doors in the years leading up to Edward VIII’s abdication were, I think, the most fascinating parts of this engaging ‘twin’ memoir.
Backing up the opinion of later historians, Thelma writes that Edward was not known for his intellect: “The Prince was not a man for abstract ideas or ponderous thought; nor was he interested to any extent in the theater, books or art.”
He was not happy about being separated from Thelma when she planned to join Gloria for a trip to California. Before leaving London, she asked her friend Wallis Simpson, whom she had introduced to the Prince to “...look after him for me while I’m away. See that he does not get into any mischief.” Thelma includes a gem of historical commentary when she writes, “It was later evident that Wallis took my advice all too literally. Whether or not she kept him out of mischief is a question whose answer hinges on the fine points of semantics”.
I got somewhat giddy with the money spent, the nightclubs visited, the servants hired and the sheer number of trans-Atlantic crossing described in their lives between World War I and the advent of regular airplane travel in 1950. At the same time, through their juicy commentary, such lavish lifestyle and haute-society goings-on in these decades is brought to wondrous and fascinating life.
Maestro Leopold Stokowski, Gloria Jr’s second husband is described as unnecessarily rude and abjectly offensive. Young Gloria herself, her mother would have us believe, flip-flopped between being loving & attentive to her and cruelly manipulative & distant – no doubt psychologically affected by her childhood family trauma and spoilt excesses. Grandmother Laura also comes across as someone to whom you would not wish to be related! You really couldn’t make these characters up. One finishes the book confirmed in the oft-repeated view that money cannot buy happiness.
We know that there are always two sides to every story but the perspectives here of these sisters dedicated to each other throughout their lives is a marvelous addition to social history and a welcome window to an age and a lifestyle long gone.
Gloria Vanderbilt (Senior – mother to the ‘Poor Little Rich Girl’ Gloria who passed away earlier this year) and her identical twin sister Thelma (pronounced as in the Spanish: ‘Telma’) Viscountess Furness began life ‘on the Continent’, daughters of the peripatetic and well-connected couple, Laura and Harry Hays Morgan, a career diplomat.
Gloria is best known for the scandalous custody case trial for little Gloria of 1934 that pitted her against her sister-in-law Gertrude Vanderbilt Whitney and her own mother who painted her as an unfit parent. Thelma, on the other hand, having reached the echelons of British society after her marriage to shipping baron Viscount Marmaduke “Duke” Furness, became the mistress of Edward, Prince of Wales. These sisters did nothing by halves!
The insights into life behind aristocratic closed doors in the years leading up to Edward VIII’s abdication were, I think, the most fascinating parts of this engaging ‘twin’ memoir.
Backing up the opinion of later historians, Thelma writes that Edward was not known for his intellect: “The Prince was not a man for abstract ideas or ponderous thought; nor was he interested to any extent in the theater, books or art.”
He was not happy about being separated from Thelma when she planned to join Gloria for a trip to California. Before leaving London, she asked her friend Wallis Simpson, whom she had introduced to the Prince to “...look after him for me while I’m away. See that he does not get into any mischief.” Thelma includes a gem of historical commentary when she writes, “It was later evident that Wallis took my advice all too literally. Whether or not she kept him out of mischief is a question whose answer hinges on the fine points of semantics”.
I got somewhat giddy with the money spent, the nightclubs visited, the servants hired and the sheer number of trans-Atlantic crossing described in their lives between World War I and the advent of regular airplane travel in 1950. At the same time, through their juicy commentary, such lavish lifestyle and haute-society goings-on in these decades is brought to wondrous and fascinating life.
Maestro Leopold Stokowski, Gloria Jr’s second husband is described as unnecessarily rude and abjectly offensive. Young Gloria herself, her mother would have us believe, flip-flopped between being loving & attentive to her and cruelly manipulative & distant – no doubt psychologically affected by her childhood family trauma and spoilt excesses. Grandmother Laura also comes across as someone to whom you would not wish to be related! You really couldn’t make these characters up. One finishes the book confirmed in the oft-repeated view that money cannot buy happiness.
We know that there are always two sides to every story but the perspectives here of these sisters dedicated to each other throughout their lives is a marvelous addition to social history and a welcome window to an age and a lifestyle long gone.
August 24, 2018
A self serving look back at the lives of Gloria and Thelma Morgan, society twin girls in the early to mid 1900’s. Gloria married a Vanderbilt heir and gave birth to “little Gloria” the one we know well who is the mother of Anderson Cooper. Thelma married a very wealthy Brit who became Lord Furness. She was also the mistress to the Prince of Wales before Wallis Simpson sunk her claws into him. The book is just a series of tales about the twins -shallow people with questionable morals and no obvious intellect - and the rarefied lives the super rich. Ugh. Amateurly written(no ghost writer here). World wars and the Depression are mere footnotes to their parties, trysts and marriages. Even in 1958 when the book was written you would think some self-awareness would creep in to at least acknowledge the horrors and suffering. They did have a terrible, probably bi-polar mother but I’m not sure that’s enough of an excuse for the “twins”.
April 16, 2018
Interesting but dated
Interesting from the basis that I am studying the period. Authors came across as vacuous and superficial. Wealth privilege at its worst
Interesting from the basis that I am studying the period. Authors came across as vacuous and superficial. Wealth privilege at its worst
September 28, 2018
Probably not for everybody; I only read it because it was mentioned in our neighborhood book group and I'm trying to read more auto/biographies. The first half was more enjoyable, with Gloria and Thelma's childhoods discussed. They traveled all the eastern US and then England and France with a little Swiss thrown in, because their father was a US Diplomat who went worldwide. The mother was a super-controlling, old school "you will not do.." who her young daughters surprisingly respected and loved. She tried to turn them against their father, and later tried to turn Gloria's own daughter against her (almost successfully). Names and places are dropped all over the second half of the book, as the girls are in and out of marriages and affairs. Gloria's chapters include a whole lot about her affair with the Prince of Wales (pre-Wallis Simpson). Chapters trade places between the women but it's easy to keep track of who's who; what got old was the descriptions of the jewels, gowns, homes, and trips to ... everywhere. It's like they kept the steamship lines in business just by themselves. They never stayed home, it seems. (Hence why Gloria's mother probably wanted to keep her granddaughter for herself; Gloria did hardly any mothering and just handed little Gloria off to the nanny.
Not a book I highly recommend , but it was interesting enough. (I really never knew she had a twin)
Not a book I highly recommend , but it was interesting enough. (I really never knew she had a twin)
February 14, 2026
Society Twins
Double Exposure garners four stars from me because I am a fan of "I was there" books. The post Gilded Age memoir of the infamous Morgan Twins is a Who's Who of the early 20th century. Vanderbilts, British nobility, the habitats of the real world of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Double Exposure is an interesting read. If you have a background or interest in psychology, this book will provide you with some serious examples of personality pathology. I was amused and dumbfounded at the same time by the antics of Mrs Morgan, mother of the twins. Considering her behavior, it amazes me that Gloria & Thelma thrived as well as they did. The chapters involving The Duke of Windsor, and little Gloria were interesting for their presentation through the eyes of the twins. It is thought provoking to consider these two secondary players, the Duke & little Gloria by the two people that knew them both so intimately.
Double Exposure garners four stars from me because I am a fan of "I was there" books. The post Gilded Age memoir of the infamous Morgan Twins is a Who's Who of the early 20th century. Vanderbilts, British nobility, the habitats of the real world of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Double Exposure is an interesting read. If you have a background or interest in psychology, this book will provide you with some serious examples of personality pathology. I was amused and dumbfounded at the same time by the antics of Mrs Morgan, mother of the twins. Considering her behavior, it amazes me that Gloria & Thelma thrived as well as they did. The chapters involving The Duke of Windsor, and little Gloria were interesting for their presentation through the eyes of the twins. It is thought provoking to consider these two secondary players, the Duke & little Gloria by the two people that knew them both so intimately.
June 9, 2018
What Lives They Led
An amazing story of life as the wealthy lived in an age never to be seen again. The twins married well, more than once. The social scene the most important thing their world centered around. I thought many times while reading their story what self-centered, self righteous people they were. Their importance and self worth revolved around what ball they would attend. They saw great wealth, and both worked hard to be sure they had it also. Whether this meant marrying well, or asking a child to support them. Useless is the one word I can think of to describe the twins. Privileged or pathetic, read their story and decide for yourself.
An amazing story of life as the wealthy lived in an age never to be seen again. The twins married well, more than once. The social scene the most important thing their world centered around. I thought many times while reading their story what self-centered, self righteous people they were. Their importance and self worth revolved around what ball they would attend. They saw great wealth, and both worked hard to be sure they had it also. Whether this meant marrying well, or asking a child to support them. Useless is the one word I can think of to describe the twins. Privileged or pathetic, read their story and decide for yourself.
September 22, 2020
What a Delightful Read!!!!!
This was such a perfect book for one who loves autobiography, English history, high society and twin stories! It was a page turner for me and I loved all of it. The book was unusual in itself for being written tag team by two fascinating identical twins. Coupled with the glorious lives they lived and their engaging writing styles, this was a winner for me. So many rich and notable people were their friends. An intriguing insight into what it was like to be two of the beautiful and bright young things in the twenties, thirties and forties. What stories. What romances. What lifestyles. Ooo!
This was such a perfect book for one who loves autobiography, English history, high society and twin stories! It was a page turner for me and I loved all of it. The book was unusual in itself for being written tag team by two fascinating identical twins. Coupled with the glorious lives they lived and their engaging writing styles, this was a winner for me. So many rich and notable people were their friends. An intriguing insight into what it was like to be two of the beautiful and bright young things in the twenties, thirties and forties. What stories. What romances. What lifestyles. Ooo!
April 5, 2018
Excellent Read
I loved this book for so many reasons. Learning not only about Thelma & Gloria's lives and experiences but also learning more about a different side/perspective of other stories written about the eras that they lived through. All of this and the upmost respect for sharing all of the raw emotions from sad, confused, anxious, happy, ecstatic, overwhelmed, and finally content. I hope that through all of it, they give thanks to God for giving one another each other. Thank you ladies for sharing your lives with us.
I loved this book for so many reasons. Learning not only about Thelma & Gloria's lives and experiences but also learning more about a different side/perspective of other stories written about the eras that they lived through. All of this and the upmost respect for sharing all of the raw emotions from sad, confused, anxious, happy, ecstatic, overwhelmed, and finally content. I hope that through all of it, they give thanks to God for giving one another each other. Thank you ladies for sharing your lives with us.
April 21, 2018
kept my interest
...i wasn't sure if this book would keep my interest long enuff for me to finish it...it is not a gossipy, name-dropping auto/biography of the sisters...it also does not go into meticulous, drawn-out detail about certain incidents & this is, in my opinion, what kept me curious enuff to keep reading....although curious, i didn't feel that i just couldn't put it down for a bit...i would recommend this book if you are interested in the twins' story told from gloria's viewpoint & without embellishments....
...i wasn't sure if this book would keep my interest long enuff for me to finish it...it is not a gossipy, name-dropping auto/biography of the sisters...it also does not go into meticulous, drawn-out detail about certain incidents & this is, in my opinion, what kept me curious enuff to keep reading....although curious, i didn't feel that i just couldn't put it down for a bit...i would recommend this book if you are interested in the twins' story told from gloria's viewpoint & without embellishments....
August 28, 2018
Truth is stranger than fiction
The old adage certainly is true! The lives of the Morgan twins reads like a soap opera series, with more dramatic twists than even the best of them. Gloria and Thelma Morgan, identical twins, lived more lives than any of us dream about. And another saying, “all that glitters is not gold,” describes their turbulent childhoods, marriages, and relationships perfectly. You have to read this incredible autobiography to believe it. And a great read it is!
The old adage certainly is true! The lives of the Morgan twins reads like a soap opera series, with more dramatic twists than even the best of them. Gloria and Thelma Morgan, identical twins, lived more lives than any of us dream about. And another saying, “all that glitters is not gold,” describes their turbulent childhoods, marriages, and relationships perfectly. You have to read this incredible autobiography to believe it. And a great read it is!
November 29, 2023
3.5 I really love the way the Morgan twins shared their stories together. It was nice to hear their take on the events that shaped their lives. I can't imagine be raised by Ms. Morgan and having to deal with her as an adult. Especially when she wanted to take Gloria's daughter away and make her her own. The control and manipulation she had on their lives, particularly Gloria's, had a huge role on the sad, mixed up, destructive life of Gloria. She seems to have completely lost herself after her husband passed away when she was just 19 years old.
April 25, 2025
I was very excited to get through this book! The story with the Gloria’s have been in other books. I’m glad I listened to this book as it gives the other side of the story. I came to despise big Gloria’s mom. She’s despicable! I now want to get through the book with little Gloria and her son Anderson Cooper. Little Gloria I believe was brainwashed but I also believe she treated her mom terribly as an adult. I only gave this 4 stars because it just kinda dropped off and didn’t really finish their stories
November 6, 2017
TWO STORIES IN ONE
This book is written by twin sisters Gloria Vanderbilt and Thelma Furness. They lived through so much pain and heartbreak and yet they tell their stories in a straight forward manner with no self-pity. They lived in glamours and historical time and they share their story with us. The story ends with their running a perfume company and I sure wish I knew the rest of the story.
This book is written by twin sisters Gloria Vanderbilt and Thelma Furness. They lived through so much pain and heartbreak and yet they tell their stories in a straight forward manner with no self-pity. They lived in glamours and historical time and they share their story with us. The story ends with their running a perfume company and I sure wish I knew the rest of the story.
January 20, 2018
Wonderful book
I loved the book wrote by the Morgan twins, Mrs. Gloria Vanderbilt and Lady Furness.
I was born in 1980 but as far as I can remember I've only watched black and white movies and followed stars that left this earth before I was born.
This is story of not just twin sisters that married into fortune s but also how love, a mother's love lost those fortunes to just keep a child close to them.
I loved the book wrote by the Morgan twins, Mrs. Gloria Vanderbilt and Lady Furness.
I was born in 1980 but as far as I can remember I've only watched black and white movies and followed stars that left this earth before I was born.
This is story of not just twin sisters that married into fortune s but also how love, a mother's love lost those fortunes to just keep a child close to them.
April 6, 2019
Double dose
I wasn’t expecting this book to be nearly as interesting as it was. These twin sisters were at the forefront of society in the US, UK and Europe and tell a fascinating story of life at the top end mainly in the period prior to WW2. Of course being autobiographical, you need to discount some of what is said, but even so, they had amazing if troubled lives. The first half is particularly engaging.
I wasn’t expecting this book to be nearly as interesting as it was. These twin sisters were at the forefront of society in the US, UK and Europe and tell a fascinating story of life at the top end mainly in the period prior to WW2. Of course being autobiographical, you need to discount some of what is said, but even so, they had amazing if troubled lives. The first half is particularly engaging.
February 18, 2022
I have no words
The grandeur and opulence was, fascinating but I guess i went into this book already prejudiced as I read the last book written by Anderson Cooper and his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt. Gloria was not a good mother but apparently neither was her own. Whose life I found interesting and quite exciting was her sister, Thelma. I always thought Wallis Simpson a snake and the Prince of Wales was a weak ninny!
The grandeur and opulence was, fascinating but I guess i went into this book already prejudiced as I read the last book written by Anderson Cooper and his mother, Gloria Vanderbilt. Gloria was not a good mother but apparently neither was her own. Whose life I found interesting and quite exciting was her sister, Thelma. I always thought Wallis Simpson a snake and the Prince of Wales was a weak ninny!
July 12, 2022
Absolutely fabulous in-depth study of high society twin girls who grew into beautiful women who both led spectacularly interesting lives. One married a Vanderbilt, the other a Furness and carried on for a while with the future king of England. One gave birth to ‘little Gloria’ who seems to be one of the most godawful poisoness bitches ever.
A great first-hand study of a seriously dysfunctional -though highly interesting - family. So many glamorous transatlantic ship trips. And the paatie!
A great first-hand study of a seriously dysfunctional -though highly interesting - family. So many glamorous transatlantic ship trips. And the paatie!
January 11, 2018
Enjoyable diversion
While this world of privilege and society is outdated it is still interesting to know how it was lived. The thought of hopping on ships and going back and forth across the ocean for any provocation is unbelievable today. These two women certainly had complicated, unhappy lives.
While this world of privilege and society is outdated it is still interesting to know how it was lived. The thought of hopping on ships and going back and forth across the ocean for any provocation is unbelievable today. These two women certainly had complicated, unhappy lives.
September 23, 2021
Perhaps distracted by the immense entitlement that underpins the telling, I found the dual voices dissonant at times (Intentional? My bad if so) and would have benefited from a clearer view of Consuelo's experiences. Not as a third voice thanks, but as a more rounded player in the story. But a welcome perspective on the abdication crisis and another reminder of dear David's frailty.
January 31, 2024
Fascinating read!
It didn't go into as much detail about the custody case as "Little Gloria, happy at last, it did tell much more about how Gloria and Thelma grew up and their mother's mental illness and obsession with royalty. I was surprised to read about " Little " Gloria's coldness towards her mother. It puts a whole different outlook on her.
It didn't go into as much detail about the custody case as "Little Gloria, happy at last, it did tell much more about how Gloria and Thelma grew up and their mother's mental illness and obsession with royalty. I was surprised to read about " Little " Gloria's coldness towards her mother. It puts a whole different outlook on her.
November 27, 2017
Human nature shown on its many different faces.
Sometimes innocent people have to pay a high price when surrounded by manipulative ones. Money does not buy happiness. Real life outstands fiction.
Sometimes innocent people have to pay a high price when surrounded by manipulative ones. Money does not buy happiness. Real life outstands fiction.
November 28, 2017
Loved this book. Such an interesting insight into these two. And so interesting to hear Big Gloria’s side of the custody battle. And to learn more about Thelma. Fascinating insight into these people and their time.
December 24, 2017
Very Good
I enjoyed every minute of this book. I don't usually like stories that do each chapter with a different person. However this book is so well written that I hardly noticed. It has peaked my interest and I will be looking for more books on this fascinating family.
I enjoyed every minute of this book. I don't usually like stories that do each chapter with a different person. However this book is so well written that I hardly noticed. It has peaked my interest and I will be looking for more books on this fascinating family.
January 23, 2018
Interesting and enjoyable
Very fascinating, .loved this book. The background on Gloria Vanderbilt was interesting.
I highly reccommend this book for fans of celebrity biographies and autobiographies.
Very fascinating, .loved this book. The background on Gloria Vanderbilt was interesting.
I highly reccommend this book for fans of celebrity biographies and autobiographies.
March 10, 2018
3 stars
Though I am interested in this time period and the people who lived it, the twins' lives have been unorthodox. Being rich when young, then living off of others as they got older. Especially Gloria, Thelma was usually married. 18+
Though I am interested in this time period and the people who lived it, the twins' lives have been unorthodox. Being rich when young, then living off of others as they got older. Especially Gloria, Thelma was usually married. 18+
March 27, 2018
Best book ever
I have read this book almost straight through, not wanting to put it down. Needless to say, it is one of the most fascinating books I have read in my seventh-seven years.
I have read this book almost straight through, not wanting to put it down. Needless to say, it is one of the most fascinating books I have read in my seventh-seven years.
July 4, 2018
Amazing
Good reading but was amazed at how little those two ever thought about just being down to earth instead of always extravagantly spending money on themselves. Sounded a bit much.
Good reading but was amazed at how little those two ever thought about just being down to earth instead of always extravagantly spending money on themselves. Sounded a bit much.
April 3, 2019
Fun
Story told by twin sisters of life in the early1950's. Wealthy at times, glamorus, living a life most never see. Relationships with some of the richest ,influential men of the times. What a ride
Story told by twin sisters of life in the early1950's. Wealthy at times, glamorus, living a life most never see. Relationships with some of the richest ,influential men of the times. What a ride
March 24, 2021
A twin autobiography and these are no ordinary twins. I am however an ordinary twin who escaped into their world for a brief time through this book. Great fun particularly given the period of history they write about.
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