The Last Waltz

by Nancy Zaroulis

Hauntingly romantic, unforgettably moving, here is THE LAST WALTZ --- a novel that will sweep you into a magnificent world where wealth and tradition cannot hold back the dizzying heights of passion --- or escape the shattering depths of scandal and betrayal.

Set against the glittering Boston of the 1880s and the opulent society of turn-of-the-century Newport, this is the story of Isabel January --- a debutante of wealth, breeding, and rare beauty, whose poised smile and cool eyes hide the wild yearnings of her heart. And this is the story of Marian Childs --- plain, impoverished, without prospects, yet destined to blossom into a woman of style and substance. Of different worlds, these two indomitable women are inextricably linked through fortune and fate, through tragedy and triumph, through two generations of the prominent January family --- and ultimately through the one man whose ruthless passion will forever alter the course of both their lives.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Historical Romance

718 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Nancy Zaroulis aka Cynthia Peale writes fiction and nonfiction. In her spare time she enjoys photography, museums, a good movie, knitting, and cooking. Not a sports fan, but keep your eye on that 8-year-old chess champ (in 2019) in New York!

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this book as a paperback to read at my 1st summer job, working as a ticket taker at the beach (we had lots of down time). I loved this book when I read at age 16. I have reread it many times & always enjoy it. I loved the history- Boston, Newport, the time period, the styles, the attitudes. It is a fairly depressing story, but I like Marion.

[Amber Mortenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book when I was 17 years old and have never forgotten it- It made a lasting impression. I know that seems odd but the characters stayed with me all these years. Perhaps because I was an impressionable young girl- who knows. It's a classic in my library-

[Irina · Rating 3 out of 5]

After finishing the first part, I'm giving up on this novel. I was so excited to find it because it had all the things I'm finding interesting at the moment: 19th century American upper class, a family saga told from the perspective of a woman, unexpected inheritance, rags to riches. The author is a historian which should've made the book better, only it didn't. It was boring. Things happen, yet there's no climax and anything worth delving into just flies by. I skipped two pages - the main character has already gotten married! There are a lot of period details yet I couldn't quite grasp what life was like at the Januarys' house. The protagonist is dull. The rest of the cast often act completely out of character making them unbelievable. The premise of this book sounds better than it is, unfortunately.

[Carol Aselton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely the best book I have read in a long time. Could not put it down. The drama, the history, the emotion, the characters.....were all there .....in just the right quantities. The descriptions of Boston, Nahant, Newport were marvelous. The descriptions of the characters made you feel like you were sitting next to them. The descriptions of the lifestyles at that time.....actually made me glad I lived in this century not then. This was the first Nancy Zaroulis I read, and it looks like she has not written a great quantity of books, but her "Massachusetts" is definitely on my list to read in the immediate future.

[Mary Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book about Boston/Newport society in the late 1800's through the early 1900's. It was a good page turner. Greatsummer reading!

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mistakenly I received this book "the last waltz" rather than the last waltz about the Strauss musical family. Since the one in my hand complemented my current reading about Bob Bell and Paul, I decided to read this book about the end of the 19th century among the swells of Boston and Newport, Rhode Island.

Surprisingly, I enjoyed reading this fictional account of the goings-on among the ultrarich of that time. But ultimately, I think I prefer reading Oscar Wilde's rendition of social mores of the time.

[Camille]

I enjoyed this book . I am so sorry it is finished!! The characters of Isabel, Marian, Elinor, Ned, Avery, Perseus, Mrs. January, the other brothers and sisters, Maids, horsemen, butlers and all the kids and grandkids was very interesting.
This is set in the late 1870's and goes right through the early 1900's of their lives. No spoilers here. But there is unrequited love, a court case and tons of twists and turns. It is a page turner. Enjoy!!

[Ruth · Rating 2 out of 5]

c1984 Sadly, for me, I couldn't write a review as good as this one published in The New York Times when it was first published "THE LAST WALTZ. By Nancy Zaroulis. (Doubleday, $16.95.) Two hours after reading a romance novel, you're hungry for something else to read. Four hours later, the names of the characters have vanished beyond recall, and the particulars of the plot have become as fuzzy as a photo taken without a flash cube. So it is with ''The Last Waltz'' by Nancy Zaroulis, a saga of Boston Brahmin life in the last quarter of the 19th century. More precisely, it's a tale laced with what the narrator, Marian Motley, calls ''scandal's hot, foul breath.'' That Marion has quite a way of putting things. The novel centers around the January clan - specifically, beautiful Isabel, who falls in love with a blond demigod named Lawrence Cushing. (''Dear heaven, how she adored him!'') but marries the boring, wealthy, socially irreproachable Avery Kittredge. Dutifully but in anger, Isabel bears five children and becomes a big shot in Boston and Newport society, all the while languishing for Cushing, who turns up periodically - every inch a Dorian Gray. ''Ah, Marian!'' she moans. ''He bewitches me. I am not myself when he is with me. I take leave of my senses.'' Of course, ''The Last Waltz'' isn't just about Isabel; it's also the story of Marian, a destitute young woman who is taken in by the Januarys as a companion to elderly, ailing Uncle James. And darned if the old guy doesn't leave her the bulk of his fortune. ''Later - years later -'' recalls Marian, ''I learned that freedom and peace of mind are beyond price, and that the people of wealth whom I knew were as subject to the miseries of mind and body as all the world's poor.'' Like Isabel, Marian marries disastrously, then falls in love with an adventurer by whom she has a son. Predictably, the consequences are heartbreaking, if you care. - Joanne Kaufman "

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I didn't like this as much as I remember, but the fact that I FINALLY-after something like 11 years of searching-was able to find this book, made it definitely worthwhile. I had begun to think I had imagined it! Overall, it's a little maudlin, and pretty much anything that can go wrong will. But I love the Gilded Age time period, and loved that the story gave the female characters such agency. It's almost like The Great Gatsby in that Marion who is telling the story, isn't really the heart of it. The story is really about Isabel and her obsessive love and big house and grand parties.

[Donna Jo Atwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Set mainly in Fin de Siecle Boston, this is the story of love twarted, love denied, love clandestinely acted upon (or not), love warped dangerously out of control.
I enjoyed it. I kept thinking of a movie and the clothes they would have been wearing.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written, but the theme seems to be, if you love someone they will soon die and the only people that stick with you are the ones who secretly try to bring you down. Not sure that is true!

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book about Zelda Sayre Fitzgerald and her sad, sad life.

[Misfit]

This one is due back at the library, and too much on my plate right now. Will reloot another day.