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Heiresses: The Lives of the Million Dollar Babies
Author of THE THE LIVES OF THE MITFORD SISTERS Laura Thompson's THE LIVES OF THE MILLION DOLLAR BABIES, examining the phenomenon of the heiress, from Christina Onassis to Patty Hearst, Mary Davies to Alice Silverthorne, telling their stories and considering why it is so hard to live with plenitude, as some heiresses succumbed to their fortune while others became patrons and built up their estates, to Charles Spicer at St. Martin's.
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First published February 1, 2022
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About the author
Laura Thompson
87 books182 followersPlease note: Laura Thompson's account is mistakenly merged with another author's account by the same name. Goodreads Librarians are working to solve the issue.
Laura Thompson writes about life - and is unapologetic in what she captures. She is a sexual assault survivor, has navigated near death traumas with her daughters' medical issues, and possesses the ability to capture what is true, honest, and worthy.
True to form, her writing will resonate powerfully with other survivors and with anyone who knows a survivor - because she embodies the word.
Thompson has worked in nonprofit administration for seven years. She and her husband, Edward, have three children: identical twin daughters, Jane and Claire, and son, Stephen. They reside in the Lowcountry of Charleston, SC.
Laura Thompson writes about life - and is unapologetic in what she captures. She is a sexual assault survivor, has navigated near death traumas with her daughters' medical issues, and possesses the ability to capture what is true, honest, and worthy.
True to form, her writing will resonate powerfully with other survivors and with anyone who knows a survivor - because she embodies the word.
Thompson has worked in nonprofit administration for seven years. She and her husband, Edward, have three children: identical twin daughters, Jane and Claire, and son, Stephen. They reside in the Lowcountry of Charleston, SC.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 418 reviews
January 4, 2024
Technically this was a DNF but it was not because of the writing or subject matter— rather I picked it up because I’ve always been fascinated with the Gilded Age and the American heiresses sent across the Atlantic to catapult their Mamas up the societal rung.
Once the book hit the 20th century, my knowledge of poor little rich girls was sufficient, having heard some of those sad tales already.
From the beginning, this was both a fascinating and thoroughly depressing read. I believe that being young, female and an heiress of large proportions was pretty often a story of maniacal mothers, spurious suitors, or sad endings— often all three.
Laws changed slowly. What I really enjoyed about this was the author wrapped anecdotes into what was happening between the sexes at each time period. It felt more like a series of great lectures — making it a perfect choice for audiobook!!
What did I learn? Better to be a young widow than an unattached heiress. To be honest, a middle class lifestyle was a far better future than what often faced the young women of money and social standing.
Let’s just say— these weren’t the rich housewives of Bravo fame.
(Reviewed on 4/30/23)
Once the book hit the 20th century, my knowledge of poor little rich girls was sufficient, having heard some of those sad tales already.
From the beginning, this was both a fascinating and thoroughly depressing read. I believe that being young, female and an heiress of large proportions was pretty often a story of maniacal mothers, spurious suitors, or sad endings— often all three.
Laws changed slowly. What I really enjoyed about this was the author wrapped anecdotes into what was happening between the sexes at each time period. It felt more like a series of great lectures — making it a perfect choice for audiobook!!
What did I learn? Better to be a young widow than an unattached heiress. To be honest, a middle class lifestyle was a far better future than what often faced the young women of money and social standing.
Let’s just say— these weren’t the rich housewives of Bravo fame.
(Reviewed on 4/30/23)
December 15, 2021
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy to review. I wish this had been what it was marketed as!
This book read much more like an academic reference book than I expected. I thought I was getting a collection of salacious moments, gossip column style, and some juicy backstory. Instead as others noted, this was a clunky read that read like a rambling, spacey conversation, jumping all over the place and dropping names and dates. Fact-dumping with a hyperactive tone. I am absolutely down to read a feminist thesis, but I need to know that's what I'm going into; and this made me feel like I was back in my gender studies courses, and not in a good way.
If this had been presented as a research paper, I think I'd have approached it differently. While I can recognize the research and interesting feminist theory platforms presented in this book, as a casual, entertaining read, it unfortunately fell flat for me, a two-star read.
This book read much more like an academic reference book than I expected. I thought I was getting a collection of salacious moments, gossip column style, and some juicy backstory. Instead as others noted, this was a clunky read that read like a rambling, spacey conversation, jumping all over the place and dropping names and dates. Fact-dumping with a hyperactive tone. I am absolutely down to read a feminist thesis, but I need to know that's what I'm going into; and this made me feel like I was back in my gender studies courses, and not in a good way.
If this had been presented as a research paper, I think I'd have approached it differently. While I can recognize the research and interesting feminist theory platforms presented in this book, as a casual, entertaining read, it unfortunately fell flat for me, a two-star read.
March 15, 2024
Well-researched but disjointed and all over the place. Billed as “a look at the lives of heiresses”, the first 130 pages are an onerous slog though the vile men (and resulting court cases) who used and abused the women who are reduced to secondary characters. Things do get more interesting as the American heiresses start hopping the pond in search of titled British husbands, but we skip around in time and subject so much that continuity and gravitas is lost.
And how many random fangirl Meghan Marke (i.e. not an heiress) mentions do we need? I stopped counting at half a dozen.
And how many random fangirl Meghan Marke (i.e. not an heiress) mentions do we need? I stopped counting at half a dozen.
March 11, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and Laura Thompson for the opportunity to read and review an e-galley copy of "Heiresses: The Lives of the Million Dollar Babies."
Well... I must say... I had my fill of scandals and drama as I journeyed through this book. It is teeming with a plethora of information that showcases the writer's ability to artfully report her research findings in intricate detail. It is a sweeping saga about heiresses and their personal experiences that unfolds decades after decades, giving the reader an intimate, birds-eye view of their gilded, yet oftentimes, lackluster worlds.
Though at times the issues plaguing the heiresses are serious in nature, the author's delivery of said information is almost playful and gossipy at times and therefore entertaining for the reader. I found myself thinking of such television shows as the original version of "Gossip Girl," sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the next "omg" moment to hit me between my eyes. Indeed... there were many scenarios these women endured that left me shaking my head in wonder. Vilified, sold, stolen, bartered, raped, held captive, rendered insane, beaten, hidden, "enveloped in money" but without a shred of rights or dignity, stripped of decision-making or access to their own inherited funds... these "true stories" are horrific in nature to say the least.
My thoughts veered to Tina Turner's famous song, "What's Love Got To Do With It?" as it kept entering my mind as I turned page after page, reading all the drama that ensued for these "heiresses." Where was the love? Sadly, it most often had nothing to do with these relationships. These were business alliances, get-rich-quick for the groom schemes, relationships that favored the males and put a noose around the females' neck. Rich in money and assets... yet poor in respect and genuine love. How awful it must have been to be wanted only for what you can "deliver," for being chosen for the attractive "loot" you can bring into a relationship. My thoughts were churning with a smorgasbord of questions while reading this book and so it is clearly a thought-provoking compilation that connects with the reader.
We are also introduced to females who thrived as heiresses. This was a relief to read. The struggle to "be" figured prominently for these heiresses.
In summation, I enjoyed this book. The information was rich, detailed and carried a playful tone to it as clearly, the reader can note that the writer, too, was probably rolling her eyes as she assembled the information for this book.
I recommend this book for your reading pleasure.
Well... I must say... I had my fill of scandals and drama as I journeyed through this book. It is teeming with a plethora of information that showcases the writer's ability to artfully report her research findings in intricate detail. It is a sweeping saga about heiresses and their personal experiences that unfolds decades after decades, giving the reader an intimate, birds-eye view of their gilded, yet oftentimes, lackluster worlds.
Though at times the issues plaguing the heiresses are serious in nature, the author's delivery of said information is almost playful and gossipy at times and therefore entertaining for the reader. I found myself thinking of such television shows as the original version of "Gossip Girl," sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for the next "omg" moment to hit me between my eyes. Indeed... there were many scenarios these women endured that left me shaking my head in wonder. Vilified, sold, stolen, bartered, raped, held captive, rendered insane, beaten, hidden, "enveloped in money" but without a shred of rights or dignity, stripped of decision-making or access to their own inherited funds... these "true stories" are horrific in nature to say the least.
My thoughts veered to Tina Turner's famous song, "What's Love Got To Do With It?" as it kept entering my mind as I turned page after page, reading all the drama that ensued for these "heiresses." Where was the love? Sadly, it most often had nothing to do with these relationships. These were business alliances, get-rich-quick for the groom schemes, relationships that favored the males and put a noose around the females' neck. Rich in money and assets... yet poor in respect and genuine love. How awful it must have been to be wanted only for what you can "deliver," for being chosen for the attractive "loot" you can bring into a relationship. My thoughts were churning with a smorgasbord of questions while reading this book and so it is clearly a thought-provoking compilation that connects with the reader.
We are also introduced to females who thrived as heiresses. This was a relief to read. The struggle to "be" figured prominently for these heiresses.
In summation, I enjoyed this book. The information was rich, detailed and carried a playful tone to it as clearly, the reader can note that the writer, too, was probably rolling her eyes as she assembled the information for this book.
I recommend this book for your reading pleasure.
December 5, 2021
When I began this book I was expecting a juicy, backstairs look into the lives of these women. Unfortunately, nothing could be farther from the truth. The first third, almost half, of the book read more like a series of term papers on the history of women’s rights in Great Britain. It was a rather dry recital of names, amounts of inheritances with a very brief recounting of the horrible things that happened to the women. Things did picked up a bit when the Americans became involved. I think this book was more about women’s rights and the author chose the treatment of heiresses as the vehicle for its portrayal.
I found the writing to be dry and disconnected. The author would begin to write about one heiress and suddenly go off about another in the future and that one would remind her of another from the past and back we would go. Frankly, as soon as each heiress was mentioned, I found it easier to just Google her and learn her story so I would have a better idea of what the author was writing about.
My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.
I found the writing to be dry and disconnected. The author would begin to write about one heiress and suddenly go off about another in the future and that one would remind her of another from the past and back we would go. Frankly, as soon as each heiress was mentioned, I found it easier to just Google her and learn her story so I would have a better idea of what the author was writing about.
My copy of this book was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to the the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review it.
February 17, 2022
Though you'd think money smoothes away all obstacles, it seems in the lives of these heiresses to be the thing that stands between them and happiness. Using the examples of individual heiresses to make her case, Thompson shows how the lives of heiresses evolved with the times, and what they may need to achieve happiness in their different ways.
The book is broken down into four sections which deal with different eras of heiresses, from the heiress abductions of the Georgian times to the American invasion in Regency and Victorian, the freedom and hedonism of the World Wars, and finally the politically-minded 'anti-heiresses' of the mid-century period. Except from Patty Hearst and Barbara Hutton, both discussed in this last section, the women covered by Thompson were mostly unfamiliar to me, so it was very interesting to learn about these figures who were pivotal in their own times but quite obscure today.
Though we learn about insane excesses, unhappy marriages, and scandals galore, the tone of the writing was quite academic - no recklessly unsubstantiated rumors here! I know this disappointed some readers who were expecting more salacious stories, but I thought the lives of the heiresses were wild enough without. I also really enjoyed the razor-sharp style of writing, which in turn lauded and lambasted the various players in the dramas and held an arch but sympathetic view of most heiresses.
Overall, this was a fascinating read, and I think I will check out this author's other work on the Mitford sisters sometime.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
The book is broken down into four sections which deal with different eras of heiresses, from the heiress abductions of the Georgian times to the American invasion in Regency and Victorian, the freedom and hedonism of the World Wars, and finally the politically-minded 'anti-heiresses' of the mid-century period. Except from Patty Hearst and Barbara Hutton, both discussed in this last section, the women covered by Thompson were mostly unfamiliar to me, so it was very interesting to learn about these figures who were pivotal in their own times but quite obscure today.
Though we learn about insane excesses, unhappy marriages, and scandals galore, the tone of the writing was quite academic - no recklessly unsubstantiated rumors here! I know this disappointed some readers who were expecting more salacious stories, but I thought the lives of the heiresses were wild enough without. I also really enjoyed the razor-sharp style of writing, which in turn lauded and lambasted the various players in the dramas and held an arch but sympathetic view of most heiresses.
Overall, this was a fascinating read, and I think I will check out this author's other work on the Mitford sisters sometime.
Disclaimer: I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.
December 15, 2021
This book wasn’t what I expected. I felt the author failed to state the obvious—in plain language—and the author attempted to put too much information together. I anticipated being able to get to know each featured heiress but what I got was a jumble of names, dates, and numerous references to other publications (I’d not read) such as the 1920 novel by Edith Wharton, “The Age of Innocence.” Frequently I found myself reading a section and then puzzling over the point the author intended for the reader to get. It was challenging to understand the comparative connections made in the span of a few sentences (or sometimes paragraphs) such as jumping from the Duke of St. Austrey’s to Meghan Markle and Jeff Bezos then on to Alva Vanderbilt and Consuela Yznaga, ending with Caroline Astor. The jumping from person-to-person happens throughout the book.
From the many references to other publications, included quotes, and names, it’s clear the author did much research. It’s unfortunate the writings weren’t written about fewer people and in a clearer way.
Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
From the many references to other publications, included quotes, and names, it’s clear the author did much research. It’s unfortunate the writings weren’t written about fewer people and in a clearer way.
Thank you to Net Galley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
January 26, 2022
Heiresses by Laura Thompson is a history of women who inherited money from their families and how it affected their lives. Filled with historical data and referencing some remarks/comments that were made by contemporaries of each heiress helped to showcase each heiress' life. The 17th and 18th century heiresses were little more than tools for men to enrich their own lives without lifting a finger for themselves which is a sad commentary. I knew of these types of affairs but not to the extent that Ms. Thompson described in the book.
The problem that I had with the book is that Ms. Thompson would be writing about an heiress from the 17th or 18th century and then jump to comparing a contemporary heiress with the earlier heiress. I found it confusing and never understood the need for the comparisons. I also was disappointed that she only highlighted a few of the contemporary heiress lives where she had gone into so much depth on the earlier heiresses. Although an interesting read, I had difficulty with it holding my attention (especially when it jumped around between early and contemporary heiresses). Disappointing but it definitely showcased how money does not buy happiness.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
The problem that I had with the book is that Ms. Thompson would be writing about an heiress from the 17th or 18th century and then jump to comparing a contemporary heiress with the earlier heiress. I found it confusing and never understood the need for the comparisons. I also was disappointed that she only highlighted a few of the contemporary heiress lives where she had gone into so much depth on the earlier heiresses. Although an interesting read, I had difficulty with it holding my attention (especially when it jumped around between early and contemporary heiresses). Disappointing but it definitely showcased how money does not buy happiness.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Read
January 26, 2023Sigh. Though a seriously researched book, the chapters were also seriously disconnected- and assumed that the reader had substantial previous knowledge of the ins and outs of the 18th Century gentry, for its first half. I enjoyed flipping through the photos- recognized all of those from the 20th Century but decided that if her treatment ongoing- 19th &20th- was going to be riddled with jumped about detail’s interspersed with current allusions to celebs who I didn’t know(and the author didn’t clarify), there was no point in continuing.
I think I’m not the reader for her style… realized that I’d bailed on another book of hers.
She had a point of view which she was determined to illustrate, I thought, more than these women’s lives.
I think I’m not the reader for her style… realized that I’d bailed on another book of hers.
She had a point of view which she was determined to illustrate, I thought, more than these women’s lives.
April 1, 2022
This was poorly paced and I didn't like how it was organized either.
This starts off with heiresses from famous fictional books and movies. I was unimpressed. Even after it slowly gets to the point far too often fictional heiresses are referenced in annoying and frankly puzzling ways.
The author both states that money would change her life and increase her happiness AND that money had no impact on heiresses lives because of lack of frame of reference or want.
I don't like the idea that poverty and struggle build character especially when we know what it builds is trauma.
Also wealth does create happiness. Turns out the ability to afford to live increases base happiness. We've known this for decades.
Much like white privilege doesn't guarantee a life of comfort devoid of struggle, rather it denotes a life free from the negative impact of race.
The same is true with wealth, it offers a life in which finances aren't a concern, not guarantees a life with zero struggles. Still money buys a lot of power and prestige in our society and that creates an affluent life. No one is guaranteed happiness and frankly if these heiresses were miserable their wealth was certainly causing misery for many others in support of their life of privilege. At least in the hundreds just for their everyday home, clothing, food and childcare. Now add in the employees of their various wealth producing sources and the misery is spread to thousands if not tens of thousands.
But sure, a rich heiress enjoying every physical comfort money could buy was unhappy so let's justify that feeling with poor little rich girl bullshit.
Rich people create poverty because their wealth depends on not fairly compensating labor, instead paying as little or nothing if they can get away with it. These women had servants who labored and toiled, many not even allowed to marry or date and were paid a pittance. I bet they lived unhappy lives without physical comfort of any sort too. They were certainly being used by the heiresses in this book.
I find this to be a white feminist view of history in which we remove the actual power of white women because they did not have as much power as white men. They still had more power than pretty much everyone else in society who wasn't white, including men of color.
It's like when we focus the gender pay gap on how white women are paid less than white men and ignore that those same white women out earn most folks of color independent of their gender.
White women have ALWAYS only been devoid of power in comparison to white men but consistently this narrative ignores the plight of EVERYONE else.
This book fails in that exact same way.
The author seems to think that rich women are the only women used or chosen for something other than themselves and frankly that's bullshit. Folks of modest or limited means are used for how they look, for their lowered value in the labor market, taken advantage of in many ways. In fact the poorer you are the less likely you are to be seen and acknowledged by society at large much less chosen for yourself. Lol what fucking romantic nonsense.
Being used for money isn't any worse than being used for looks or knowledge or labor or physical strength, etc.
Often historians maintain this idea that rich or titled people are uniquely misunderstood by modern society but on the contrary I'd say the western world spends most of its historical space devoted to the lives of the rich and famous very much to the expense of both history and average every day folks.
Also this historian uses the slur 'g#*sy' which is uncalled for and unacceptable but most importantly given the claims of the author, not feminist.
This starts off with heiresses from famous fictional books and movies. I was unimpressed. Even after it slowly gets to the point far too often fictional heiresses are referenced in annoying and frankly puzzling ways.
The author both states that money would change her life and increase her happiness AND that money had no impact on heiresses lives because of lack of frame of reference or want.
I don't like the idea that poverty and struggle build character especially when we know what it builds is trauma.
Also wealth does create happiness. Turns out the ability to afford to live increases base happiness. We've known this for decades.
Much like white privilege doesn't guarantee a life of comfort devoid of struggle, rather it denotes a life free from the negative impact of race.
The same is true with wealth, it offers a life in which finances aren't a concern, not guarantees a life with zero struggles. Still money buys a lot of power and prestige in our society and that creates an affluent life. No one is guaranteed happiness and frankly if these heiresses were miserable their wealth was certainly causing misery for many others in support of their life of privilege. At least in the hundreds just for their everyday home, clothing, food and childcare. Now add in the employees of their various wealth producing sources and the misery is spread to thousands if not tens of thousands.
But sure, a rich heiress enjoying every physical comfort money could buy was unhappy so let's justify that feeling with poor little rich girl bullshit.
Rich people create poverty because their wealth depends on not fairly compensating labor, instead paying as little or nothing if they can get away with it. These women had servants who labored and toiled, many not even allowed to marry or date and were paid a pittance. I bet they lived unhappy lives without physical comfort of any sort too. They were certainly being used by the heiresses in this book.
I find this to be a white feminist view of history in which we remove the actual power of white women because they did not have as much power as white men. They still had more power than pretty much everyone else in society who wasn't white, including men of color.
It's like when we focus the gender pay gap on how white women are paid less than white men and ignore that those same white women out earn most folks of color independent of their gender.
White women have ALWAYS only been devoid of power in comparison to white men but consistently this narrative ignores the plight of EVERYONE else.
This book fails in that exact same way.
The author seems to think that rich women are the only women used or chosen for something other than themselves and frankly that's bullshit. Folks of modest or limited means are used for how they look, for their lowered value in the labor market, taken advantage of in many ways. In fact the poorer you are the less likely you are to be seen and acknowledged by society at large much less chosen for yourself. Lol what fucking romantic nonsense.
Being used for money isn't any worse than being used for looks or knowledge or labor or physical strength, etc.
Often historians maintain this idea that rich or titled people are uniquely misunderstood by modern society but on the contrary I'd say the western world spends most of its historical space devoted to the lives of the rich and famous very much to the expense of both history and average every day folks.
Also this historian uses the slur 'g#*sy' which is uncalled for and unacceptable but most importantly given the claims of the author, not feminist.
March 15, 2022
I really tried, I was so excited by the idea of this. Not sure if it's the book or my current mental state, but I just couldn't not get into the writing style and did not feel invested in learning about these women as I thought I would
December 3, 2021
I thank St. Martin's Press and netgalley for providing me ARc of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book will be published on 1st February,2022.
The author starts well by introducing women from fiction, like those from Pride and Prejudice and slowly blends in the laws of the 19th century about the women's rights in fortune.
While majority women have to think about earning money for livelihood, would get a sense of pride when they purchased a luxury item, sense of longing for such riches isn't a part of the heiresses' life. Then what is it that they did to pass days? The book gives a glimpse into the lives of heiresses of the past few centuries by devoting a chapter or two on each.
The chapters are well organized and move ahead as the centuries progress. The marriage between American Heiresses to the British aristocracy, and the love of the paparazzi towards them from both the sides of the ocean is explained in detail. There are many heiresses and powerful women mentioned from the Gilded age, as well as the nouveau riche and old money.
The author has spanned past several centuries to describe the lives of the heiresses whose wealth is beyond imagination, some of whom lost all or some of it, while others remained powerful despite laws not giving them any power over their inheritance. The writing flows smoothly and that is what kept my interest. Besides the lives of the uber rich, there are several things I got to read in this
book - laws of the past centuries, culture etc. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in not only knowing the lives of rich, but also the culture and society of those times.
The author starts well by introducing women from fiction, like those from Pride and Prejudice and slowly blends in the laws of the 19th century about the women's rights in fortune.
While majority women have to think about earning money for livelihood, would get a sense of pride when they purchased a luxury item, sense of longing for such riches isn't a part of the heiresses' life. Then what is it that they did to pass days? The book gives a glimpse into the lives of heiresses of the past few centuries by devoting a chapter or two on each.
The chapters are well organized and move ahead as the centuries progress. The marriage between American Heiresses to the British aristocracy, and the love of the paparazzi towards them from both the sides of the ocean is explained in detail. There are many heiresses and powerful women mentioned from the Gilded age, as well as the nouveau riche and old money.
The author has spanned past several centuries to describe the lives of the heiresses whose wealth is beyond imagination, some of whom lost all or some of it, while others remained powerful despite laws not giving them any power over their inheritance. The writing flows smoothly and that is what kept my interest. Besides the lives of the uber rich, there are several things I got to read in this
book - laws of the past centuries, culture etc. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in not only knowing the lives of rich, but also the culture and society of those times.
December 6, 2021
I'm sure there's a lot to like about the book but it was a constant rambling of disorganized fiction weaving into the nonfiction without a real trajectory. I tried to stick with it thinking that Thompson was providing a bit of a perspective and then it dragged on and then went on longer and I thought: when is she going to get to the story?
I wanted to like it but it was circuitous and unfocused. Clearly plenty of research, but it needed organization and an editor.
I wanted to like it but it was circuitous and unfocused. Clearly plenty of research, but it needed organization and an editor.
March 14, 2022
A brilliant listen on Audible. I found myself needing to know more and more about these women who were left so much and often ended up with nothing.
As I'm currently obsessed with The Guilded Age on TV, this book offered me additional people to learn about, places to explore and also expand my knowledge full stop.
My second Laura Thompson book, I've listened to so I'll probably go see what else she's written and what else I can learn about.
As I'm currently obsessed with The Guilded Age on TV, this book offered me additional people to learn about, places to explore and also expand my knowledge full stop.
My second Laura Thompson book, I've listened to so I'll probably go see what else she's written and what else I can learn about.
December 20, 2021
This book was received from NetGalley in exchange for a review.
This was a really interesting book. Laura Thompson tells really compelling stories of doomed heiresses through the centuries. Thompson uses literary comparisons from Jane Austen to Edith Wharton to Nancy Mitford to great effect, showing the changing statuses of these girls and women through the changing times.
The first section of the book discusses girls (and some of them were just girls) and women who weren't protected by their moneyed and titled lives. The stories of Mary Davis Grosvenor (yes, that Grosvenor), Catherine Tylney Long, and Ellen Turner are used to show these changes in the roles and outcomes of heiresses in the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries. They were used as pawns to exchange wealth and lands and secure alliances. Some were literally kidnapped and married against their will, just ("just") for their inheritances. Others thought themselves in love with men who would ultimately steal their fortunes, having them sign them away or just spending it all themselves - women didn't have their own property once married and so these men could spend it all with impunity. Marriage laws were changed but women were still often at a disadvantage with the men in their lives.
Thompson next moves on to the million dollar princesses, those rich American girls whose wealth was used to buy themselves a title and help resuscitate dying aristocratic families and stately homes. New moneyed girls wouldn't be accepted into high society back home, but many Englishmen were willing to overlook common origins when they came with a high enough dollar value. Called "buccaneers," an early example of this was Jennie Jerome, but one of the most famous is Consuelo Vanderbilt. Again, many of these weren't happy marriages, built as they were upon a business transaction. Consuelo's in particular became known for how unhappy the participants truly were. Again, marriage and divorce laws were changed and women had a bit more agency over their lives.
Around the same time, and running parallel in some cases, were the heiresses who took hold of their money and did what they wanted with it. Many of these women were lesbians, left to run free by virtue of their money. They ran salons in Paris and Venice. They became involved in politics and philanthropy. They raced horses, loved fashion, did drugs. This is probably the happiest section of Thompson's book. These women took hold of their money and lives and made them their own. While these women had fun and didn't see themselves tragically, Thompson rewrites the story of Daisy Fellowes to show how it could be bent into the "poor little rich girl" narrative.
In the last main section, Thompson returns to the "unprotected" women, the women who were burdened by and careless with their money, but also the women who wanted to throw off their millions and do better things. The example of Alice de Janze shows how money doesn't buy happiness; she lost her children and attempted - and ultimately succeeded in - committing suicide. Nancy Cunard rebelled against her heiress mother and supported anti-racist and African causes, while wasting away on drugs and drink. Some gave away their properties to the National Trust, Rose Dugdale joined the IRA. Thompson also mentions Patty Hearst and Barbara Mackle, as of old, kidnapped heiresses held for ransom.
In the epilogue Thompson shows a different type of heiress, Angela Burdett-Coutts, who was friends with Charles Dickens and used her money for unglamorous social causes. She improved schools for poor children, started housing for prostitutes, gave to the RSPCA, sent money to Ireland after the potato famine. Ultimately she too was of a similar type though, marrying a much younger man, though was lucky in that he furthered her causes rather than squandering her money.
This was a fascinating book full of interesting women with both happy and sad stories. Most of them are cautionary tales of a sort - money can buy happiness but only to an extent. You can see why Thompson chose these stories - they're wild! Some of these women even inspired fictional stories either directly or indirectly (Barry Lyndon and The Buccaneers are notable examples). Thompson makes even despicable, or at least unsympathetic, people bearable - you feel for these "poor little rich girls" no matter their circumstances. This was yet another excellent book by Laura Thompson.
This was a really interesting book. Laura Thompson tells really compelling stories of doomed heiresses through the centuries. Thompson uses literary comparisons from Jane Austen to Edith Wharton to Nancy Mitford to great effect, showing the changing statuses of these girls and women through the changing times.
The first section of the book discusses girls (and some of them were just girls) and women who weren't protected by their moneyed and titled lives. The stories of Mary Davis Grosvenor (yes, that Grosvenor), Catherine Tylney Long, and Ellen Turner are used to show these changes in the roles and outcomes of heiresses in the seventeenth through nineteenth centuries. They were used as pawns to exchange wealth and lands and secure alliances. Some were literally kidnapped and married against their will, just ("just") for their inheritances. Others thought themselves in love with men who would ultimately steal their fortunes, having them sign them away or just spending it all themselves - women didn't have their own property once married and so these men could spend it all with impunity. Marriage laws were changed but women were still often at a disadvantage with the men in their lives.
Thompson next moves on to the million dollar princesses, those rich American girls whose wealth was used to buy themselves a title and help resuscitate dying aristocratic families and stately homes. New moneyed girls wouldn't be accepted into high society back home, but many Englishmen were willing to overlook common origins when they came with a high enough dollar value. Called "buccaneers," an early example of this was Jennie Jerome, but one of the most famous is Consuelo Vanderbilt. Again, many of these weren't happy marriages, built as they were upon a business transaction. Consuelo's in particular became known for how unhappy the participants truly were. Again, marriage and divorce laws were changed and women had a bit more agency over their lives.
Around the same time, and running parallel in some cases, were the heiresses who took hold of their money and did what they wanted with it. Many of these women were lesbians, left to run free by virtue of their money. They ran salons in Paris and Venice. They became involved in politics and philanthropy. They raced horses, loved fashion, did drugs. This is probably the happiest section of Thompson's book. These women took hold of their money and lives and made them their own. While these women had fun and didn't see themselves tragically, Thompson rewrites the story of Daisy Fellowes to show how it could be bent into the "poor little rich girl" narrative.
In the last main section, Thompson returns to the "unprotected" women, the women who were burdened by and careless with their money, but also the women who wanted to throw off their millions and do better things. The example of Alice de Janze shows how money doesn't buy happiness; she lost her children and attempted - and ultimately succeeded in - committing suicide. Nancy Cunard rebelled against her heiress mother and supported anti-racist and African causes, while wasting away on drugs and drink. Some gave away their properties to the National Trust, Rose Dugdale joined the IRA. Thompson also mentions Patty Hearst and Barbara Mackle, as of old, kidnapped heiresses held for ransom.
In the epilogue Thompson shows a different type of heiress, Angela Burdett-Coutts, who was friends with Charles Dickens and used her money for unglamorous social causes. She improved schools for poor children, started housing for prostitutes, gave to the RSPCA, sent money to Ireland after the potato famine. Ultimately she too was of a similar type though, marrying a much younger man, though was lucky in that he furthered her causes rather than squandering her money.
This was a fascinating book full of interesting women with both happy and sad stories. Most of them are cautionary tales of a sort - money can buy happiness but only to an extent. You can see why Thompson chose these stories - they're wild! Some of these women even inspired fictional stories either directly or indirectly (Barry Lyndon and The Buccaneers are notable examples). Thompson makes even despicable, or at least unsympathetic, people bearable - you feel for these "poor little rich girls" no matter their circumstances. This was yet another excellent book by Laura Thompson.
February 3, 2022
Wealth! A Privilege...or Not!
This was an interesting history of some of the richest women in the world. It was quite sad as how in the early centuries the woman heiress was bartered to the highest bidder by the family, and some were abducted and forced to marry at a very young age..too young.
Many of the young women of means tried to find their own way and make their own decisions, but with dire consequences. Most were controlled by marriage. Even the later century ones did not often fair well. Some spent their fortune and ended up penniless, others married and ended up in loveless marriages or divorces.
There were a lot of different stories of different wealthy women. I had a hard time keeping straight which person was being spoken about because there were so many and some had the same first names. It was a little hard at times but the author did a good job narrating I think If I was reading a print book I might get confused.
There were a few that took up causes or were happy in their wealth but it appears that a good many were not. It is clear that money is not everything and that being a wealthy woman does not guarantee happiness.
I enjoyed learning of these historical woman and if you are interested in historical women I would recommend this book to you. The author did a great job with the narration of the audio book I listened to . I think I like the audio books that are read by the author's they engage me much more in the story.
Thanks to Laura Thompson for writing a great historical account of famous women and doing a wonderful job of narrating it, to Macmillan Audio for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.
This was an interesting history of some of the richest women in the world. It was quite sad as how in the early centuries the woman heiress was bartered to the highest bidder by the family, and some were abducted and forced to marry at a very young age..too young.
Many of the young women of means tried to find their own way and make their own decisions, but with dire consequences. Most were controlled by marriage. Even the later century ones did not often fair well. Some spent their fortune and ended up penniless, others married and ended up in loveless marriages or divorces.
There were a lot of different stories of different wealthy women. I had a hard time keeping straight which person was being spoken about because there were so many and some had the same first names. It was a little hard at times but the author did a good job narrating I think If I was reading a print book I might get confused.
There were a few that took up causes or were happy in their wealth but it appears that a good many were not. It is clear that money is not everything and that being a wealthy woman does not guarantee happiness.
I enjoyed learning of these historical woman and if you are interested in historical women I would recommend this book to you. The author did a great job with the narration of the audio book I listened to . I think I like the audio books that are read by the author's they engage me much more in the story.
Thanks to Laura Thompson for writing a great historical account of famous women and doing a wonderful job of narrating it, to Macmillan Audio for publishing it and to NetGalley for making it available to me.
May 4, 2022
Not quite what I was expecting but still solid.
May 11, 2023
If there are no males in a family to inherit land and money; then the females are the ones to inherit.
The first Heiresses mention was Mary Davis born in London in 1665, she owned over 1,000 acres in the heart of London. When her husband died she became fair game to males that wanted her money.
Ellen turner was a millionaire and was kidnapped and forces to marry someone she wanted no part of.
their plan failed
When the gilded age was ending , a huge amount of money was spent on a ball,$369,000 at that time the amount would have fed over 1,000 people for a year.
During World War I many heiresses opened their homes to the care of wounded soldiers
The Heiresses changed with the times to be more generous and less self centered.
Some of the Heiresses were concerned with animal welfare and feeding the less fortunate.
The first Heiresses mention was Mary Davis born in London in 1665, she owned over 1,000 acres in the heart of London. When her husband died she became fair game to males that wanted her money.
Ellen turner was a millionaire and was kidnapped and forces to marry someone she wanted no part of.
their plan failed
When the gilded age was ending , a huge amount of money was spent on a ball,$369,000 at that time the amount would have fed over 1,000 people for a year.
During World War I many heiresses opened their homes to the care of wounded soldiers
The Heiresses changed with the times to be more generous and less self centered.
Some of the Heiresses were concerned with animal welfare and feeding the less fortunate.
February 26, 2023
Parts of this were very interesting and parts of it were very sloggy, but I'm not mad I read it. The section on white marriages was probably the most interesting part of the book, and if that's a subject you're interested in, that part is worth checking out at the very least.
April 16, 2023
This was an extremely frustrating read because I wanted to love it but it just didn’t work for me.
The writing style I found clunky, the author continuously jumped from heiress to heiress, particularly in the first part of the book. It read like a list or an essay for school, clearly the author is very knowledgeable of historical aristocracy and heiresses but this didn’t translate to the reader. Everything was so surface level.
The second half that featured the American heiresses perhaps was a little more interesting but I still felt as though the overarching question that was trying to be answered was less of a priority that it first seemed.
The book also seemed extremely heavily skewed to heiresses being totally unredeemable and one to befall their own self fulfilling prophecy. Which started to get rather indefatigable and honestly slightly depressing. Because despite a lot of them living troubled lives they also were eccentric and fascinating people yet this book brought them down to their value only being derived from their inheritance.
The writing style I found clunky, the author continuously jumped from heiress to heiress, particularly in the first part of the book. It read like a list or an essay for school, clearly the author is very knowledgeable of historical aristocracy and heiresses but this didn’t translate to the reader. Everything was so surface level.
The second half that featured the American heiresses perhaps was a little more interesting but I still felt as though the overarching question that was trying to be answered was less of a priority that it first seemed.
The book also seemed extremely heavily skewed to heiresses being totally unredeemable and one to befall their own self fulfilling prophecy. Which started to get rather indefatigable and honestly slightly depressing. Because despite a lot of them living troubled lives they also were eccentric and fascinating people yet this book brought them down to their value only being derived from their inheritance.
October 6, 2021
Heiresses by Laura Thompson is a great nonfiction that delves into the famous (and not as famous) lives of women that inherited multi-million dollar legacies and whether they ended up being success stories or became downward spirals.
This book gave a wonderful collection of women that were placed in extraordinary circumstances when they inherited a vast fortune. The examples were gathered mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries before equality really began to take shape.
It is fascinating to read about examples of success and also of despair, sadness, and failure. It is interesting to see such a vast array of situations and responses to being handed this unique situation. Some were able to rise to the occasion…some were fighters…others fell. Despite the fortunes presented, it is truly humbling (and frustrating to say the least) to see that just because they were women…massive obstacles and attempts at submission were a constant no matter if they were rich, poor, average, or exceptional.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
This book gave a wonderful collection of women that were placed in extraordinary circumstances when they inherited a vast fortune. The examples were gathered mainly from the 19th and 20th centuries before equality really began to take shape.
It is fascinating to read about examples of success and also of despair, sadness, and failure. It is interesting to see such a vast array of situations and responses to being handed this unique situation. Some were able to rise to the occasion…some were fighters…others fell. Despite the fortunes presented, it is truly humbling (and frustrating to say the least) to see that just because they were women…massive obstacles and attempts at submission were a constant no matter if they were rich, poor, average, or exceptional.
4/5 stars
Thank you NG and St. Martin’s Press for this wonderful arc and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.
I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon, Instagram, and B&N accounts upon publication.
October 9, 2024
An interesting read. As someone who loves historical fact books, I appreciated the detailed research and the insights into the lives of these wealthy women. Thompson's writing style is engaging, though at times it felt a bit dense with the amount of information crammed in. The stories were fascinating, but I found myself wanting more depth and connection with the heiresses themselves. It's definitely worth a read if you're into history and wealth, but don't expect to be completely gripped. A solid three stars from me.
Read
February 14, 2022The subject is women who inherited buckets of money, how they were treated, and how they lived.
Though the structure begins with the seventeenth century in England, and moves up to the twentieth century, occasionally Thompson jumps around, sometimes for comparison, and sometimes because of connections across generations. After all, the world of the English upper classes is pret-ty insular, and a goodly number of the early heiresses especially were daughters of titled families.
I almost bailed early on when we get a highly fictionalized account of the life of Mary Davies, whose tragic life gets an arch, sarcastic summary by Thompson, full of innuendo without much academic backup. But once Thompson got that out of her system (and it might have been punched up to draw in the reader) there is a lot more reference to primary sources as she settles in to describe the jaw-droppingly awful state of women's rights during those centuries, and how heiress kidnapping and forced marriages was next thing to an established market. So very many of these heiresses were thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, too. Yuk. Not that certain super-rich widows faired much better.
Gradually she brings us up through the Victorian period when, at last, the beginnings of laws to protect women slowly began to trickle through Parliament. (Prodded by the cases of rich women--the plights of ordinary women are acknowledged, but lie outside the scope of this book.)
At the far end of the nineteenth century are the famous cases of the Buccaneers--wealthy American women who came over wanting titles. Thompson outlines the very well known ones, of course, including a look at Edith Wharton's world, but includes the not-famous, underscoring Wharton's theme that money and titles did not buy happiness: the women who lucked out were more often than not educated, with goals of their own besides being married.
Which sets us up for the Coco Chanel era--fin de siecle and early twentieth century, specifically rich women who lived for themselves, many of them outside wedlock, or not being married at all. A lot of these women became salonistes, or patrons of the arts, and lead the sorts of lives depicted in books and films, hobnobbing with artists and intellectuals, politicians and diplomats, or career adventurers of both sexes.
These women benefitted not only from a gradual push toward more equality before the law--and from being raised to be self-sufficient.
The book ends at the end of the twentieth century, with a grim look at Patty Hearst and Barbara Mackle, with a brief glance at the recent con artist who convinced New York she was an heiress, and bilked a lot of savvy business people of millions before she landed in jail (and with a boffo Netflix deal).
It's an engaging read, though with so broad a scope it's not surprising that it lacks depth.
Copy provided by NetGalley
Though the structure begins with the seventeenth century in England, and moves up to the twentieth century, occasionally Thompson jumps around, sometimes for comparison, and sometimes because of connections across generations. After all, the world of the English upper classes is pret-ty insular, and a goodly number of the early heiresses especially were daughters of titled families.
I almost bailed early on when we get a highly fictionalized account of the life of Mary Davies, whose tragic life gets an arch, sarcastic summary by Thompson, full of innuendo without much academic backup. But once Thompson got that out of her system (and it might have been punched up to draw in the reader) there is a lot more reference to primary sources as she settles in to describe the jaw-droppingly awful state of women's rights during those centuries, and how heiress kidnapping and forced marriages was next thing to an established market. So very many of these heiresses were thirteen, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, too. Yuk. Not that certain super-rich widows faired much better.
Gradually she brings us up through the Victorian period when, at last, the beginnings of laws to protect women slowly began to trickle through Parliament. (Prodded by the cases of rich women--the plights of ordinary women are acknowledged, but lie outside the scope of this book.)
At the far end of the nineteenth century are the famous cases of the Buccaneers--wealthy American women who came over wanting titles. Thompson outlines the very well known ones, of course, including a look at Edith Wharton's world, but includes the not-famous, underscoring Wharton's theme that money and titles did not buy happiness: the women who lucked out were more often than not educated, with goals of their own besides being married.
Which sets us up for the Coco Chanel era--fin de siecle and early twentieth century, specifically rich women who lived for themselves, many of them outside wedlock, or not being married at all. A lot of these women became salonistes, or patrons of the arts, and lead the sorts of lives depicted in books and films, hobnobbing with artists and intellectuals, politicians and diplomats, or career adventurers of both sexes.
These women benefitted not only from a gradual push toward more equality before the law--and from being raised to be self-sufficient.
The book ends at the end of the twentieth century, with a grim look at Patty Hearst and Barbara Mackle, with a brief glance at the recent con artist who convinced New York she was an heiress, and bilked a lot of savvy business people of millions before she landed in jail (and with a boffo Netflix deal).
It's an engaging read, though with so broad a scope it's not surprising that it lacks depth.
Copy provided by NetGalley
February 2, 2022
What an intriguing and gripping non-fiction read! Every time I picked up “Heiresses: The Lives of the Million Dollar Babies”, I learned something new about various women throughout history, as well as the times in which they lived.
This is the first book I have read by Laura Thompson, and it certainly will not be my last. She brings the past to life right before the reader’s eyes, and I can only begin to imagine the amount of research she must have done for this book. Her passion for what she is writing about is so vividly clear, and I felt drawn into the various time periods through her writing.
This non-fiction book delves into the lives of many heiresses throughout history; not only in their personal lives, but also explores the eras in which these women lived in. Some of the women discussed include: Mary Davies, Consuelo Vanderbilt, Nancy Cunard, and many more. The author also weaves in some women and stories from literature as well, two such examples being from “Pride and Prejudice” and “The Age of Innocence”, along with more historical figures and modern women too. The good, the bad, and everything in between is presented throughout the book, and the result is an extremely thought-provoking read.
The book, at times, does feel quite jumpy subject wise, and not entirely organized. However, I still found it very difficult to put down.
If you enjoy biographies, I highly recommend this book. It kept me turning the pages, and I look forward to doing more research on my own. I also look forward to reading what Ms. Thompson writes next.
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book, and for the beautiful finished copy as well. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
This is the first book I have read by Laura Thompson, and it certainly will not be my last. She brings the past to life right before the reader’s eyes, and I can only begin to imagine the amount of research she must have done for this book. Her passion for what she is writing about is so vividly clear, and I felt drawn into the various time periods through her writing.
This non-fiction book delves into the lives of many heiresses throughout history; not only in their personal lives, but also explores the eras in which these women lived in. Some of the women discussed include: Mary Davies, Consuelo Vanderbilt, Nancy Cunard, and many more. The author also weaves in some women and stories from literature as well, two such examples being from “Pride and Prejudice” and “The Age of Innocence”, along with more historical figures and modern women too. The good, the bad, and everything in between is presented throughout the book, and the result is an extremely thought-provoking read.
The book, at times, does feel quite jumpy subject wise, and not entirely organized. However, I still found it very difficult to put down.
If you enjoy biographies, I highly recommend this book. It kept me turning the pages, and I look forward to doing more research on my own. I also look forward to reading what Ms. Thompson writes next.
Thank you so much to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC of this book, and for the beautiful finished copy as well. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
April 10, 2022
This one is about various heiresses throughout time, from early days all the way through the present. It did get a little dry at times and was not as ‘juicy’ as I wanted on the gossip but rather was more of an educational type read that I wasn’t expecting. Some heiresses’ stories I enjoyed more than others but I wished this had read more gossipy than history lesson. Overall, it was a good read that I did learn some things from.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC to review, this one is available now.
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the ARC to review, this one is available now.
abandon
June 8, 2022It was interesting, but not enough for me to want to finish this book.
January 9, 2022
Thank you to St. Martin Press and Netgalley for giving me a free eARC of the book.
This is a pretty thorough look at various heiresses of different eras - I'll admit I was expecting the book to focus on American heiresses specifically, but I was pleasantly surprised to see heiresses from the 17th, 18th and 19th century being included as well. The author knows her topic pretty well and manages to immerse the reader into the period despite all the name dropping and the fact the author would jump from one period to another more often than not. I can't help but wonder if more chapters shorter length focusing on each individual heiress would have helped the overall flow, but this was really enjoyable nonetheless and I'm interested in checking out other books by Laura Thompson.
This is a pretty thorough look at various heiresses of different eras - I'll admit I was expecting the book to focus on American heiresses specifically, but I was pleasantly surprised to see heiresses from the 17th, 18th and 19th century being included as well. The author knows her topic pretty well and manages to immerse the reader into the period despite all the name dropping and the fact the author would jump from one period to another more often than not. I can't help but wonder if more chapters shorter length focusing on each individual heiress would have helped the overall flow, but this was really enjoyable nonetheless and I'm interested in checking out other books by Laura Thompson.
February 1, 2022
review to come
February 9, 2022
I’m torn with this review. There was so much information and facts that spanned years and years that I felt like I was listening to a research paper by a college student, and at times was a tiny bit bored.
With that said, there was a lot of good information and comparisons between an heiress of the 17th century and a modern-day heiress. The things people got away with in the 17th century makes your skin crawl. The “rules and laws” are much better at protecting fortunes these days but only if the heiress is willing to do the work to protect it and if her mental health is in a good place. Too many women feel as if they aren’t good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, etc and there are plenty of ruthless people that will take advantage of those feelings.
Thank you to NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
With that said, there was a lot of good information and comparisons between an heiress of the 17th century and a modern-day heiress. The things people got away with in the 17th century makes your skin crawl. The “rules and laws” are much better at protecting fortunes these days but only if the heiress is willing to do the work to protect it and if her mental health is in a good place. Too many women feel as if they aren’t good enough, smart enough, pretty enough, etc and there are plenty of ruthless people that will take advantage of those feelings.
Thank you to NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
February 22, 2022
A fascinating look into the lives of women who inherited their fortunes and what became of them. While I enjoyed this glimpse into their lives, it felt more like reading an encyclopedia with dry biographies and not as much to give me a feel for what they were really like. There were some sad tales intermixed with the happier stories but I wanted more about their personas to flesh them out as people.
The audio was well done, no issues.
I received a copy from NetGalley for an honest review.
The audio was well done, no issues.
I received a copy from NetGalley for an honest review.
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