The Social Graces by Renee Rosen

 This story brings the Gilded Age of New York and Newport, and the rivalry of two socialites: Caroline Astor, a Knickerbocker, so called Old Money and Alva Vanderbilt, the nouveau riche, so called New Money. Told with humor, we get to see the opulence and experience the Gilded Age.

New York, 1876. Alva Vanderbilt, coming from impoverished family and marrying a rich man, thought it would automatically give her an entrance to society. But she was mistaken. Why is it so important to be part of society? It is the realm of women, the only place where they don’t have to answer to men.

Caroline Astor feels that society must be preserved, women with tiaras and men with cigars. She is a champion of Old Money and tradition. The assault by the nouveau riche is reeking “of newly minted steel and railroad money.” New Money meaning made money is seen as tasteless. One’s wealth should be inherited, not earned. You inherit money “in addition to marrying yet more money.” Despite Old Money guarding against New Money, the times are changing and the grip is slipping away.

Alva is “clever as a fox.” It’s not in her nature to give up. Despite being denied entrance to society, she crafts her own path to it. She builds a new house which takes the whole block in the city. When she can’t get a box at Academy of Music, she builds a new opera house.

I enjoyed both characters which let us experience the upper crust, and why it was so important for them to be part of tightly guarded society. Both places come alive, from Manhattan in the winters to Newport in the summers. It required at least ninety or so gowns to last through the season of six weeks in Newport, filled with lawn parties and balls lasting till dawn every night.

It was very refreshing to get acquainted with the Worth gowns. Originally, seen by Old Money as overly done, heavily embellished with diamonds and pearls, with hats providing shade for two extra people; the kind of gowns you’d expect New Money wearing.

The opulence clashing with poverty, continued inequality and suffrage movement mark the end of the Gilded Age. Alva’s path takes her from forging her own path to society to fighting for women’s rights.

This is exactly what I love: fun prose progressing story quickly and yet bringing so much depth to the characters that when this fast ride ends you don’t want to part with the story and its characters. This interestingly crafted story gives a reader a good inside into affluence, something that is so important to one and so vain to another.

Release date: 20 April 2021

Publisher: Berkley