A Well-Behaved Woman - Therese Anne Fowler

A Well-Behaved Woman - Therese Anne Fowler

She read

Release date:  October 16, 2018

This is the fascinating story of Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont, socialite, suffragette, and one of the wealthiest women of the robber baron era.  Descending from socially acceptable lineage, but having no money, her first marriage to William Vanderbilt was one of convenience.  Her second, to Oliver Belmont, supposedly one of love.  

A unique woman for her times, she displayed great interest in  philanthropy, architecture, and women’s rights.  

I don’t know how sanitized this historical fictional account is, but it was a well written, engaging read.  The  arbitrary but strict “rules” of late nineteenth century New York society were interesting, as was the ostentatious avarice of that era.