Curse of Riches

De: Claire Prentice

Narrado por: Claire Prentice, Hillary Huber

How did the Wendels, one of New York’s most famous Gilded Age families, disappear from history?

The Wendels built a fortune from New York real estate, and rubbed shoulders with the Astors, Vanderbilts, and Stuyvesants. But as the 19th century came to an end, the Wendel family tore itself apart with a series of high-profile sibling squabbles, accusations of insanity and promiscuity, false imprisonment, and unseemly legal battles over love and money.

Following six years of painstaking archival research, Claire Prentice has prised open the door of the Wendels’ Fifth Avenue mansion—dubbed “the house of mystery” by the press—to reveal a fascinating and dysfunctional family imprisoned in a gilded cage.

It’s a true tale stranger than any fiction, filled with vivid characters who struggle to find happiness in a world of unimaginable wealth, and a secret love story between master and maid.

In the words of one reporter writing in 1926, “You would have to go back to the works of Dickens to find a tale as curious and fascinating as that of this old mansion and its occupants.”

Praise for Curse of Riches:

“Gripping, and cinematic, Curse of Riches electrifies readers. Prentice seamlessly blends research and narration to deliver this tale of thwarted romance, headstrong heroines, and the persistence of love and a dream, even when great fortunes fall. A Succession for the Gilded Age—Curse of Riches and unfolds with the logic of a feverish dream. I couldn’t put it down.” (Marie Mutsuki Mockett, author of American Harvest: God, Country and Farming in the Heartland and Where the Dead Pause and the Japanese Say Goodbye)

“In this deeply researched tale, supported by access to diaries, letters, legal and business documents, Claire Prentice peels back the curtain on this weird and long-forgotten family, once among the wealthiest in New York. True stories of rich people behaving badly or strangely offer a glimpse into the money, power, love, heartbreak, madness, hatred, and despair of eccentric and extravagantly dysfunctional families. The secretive, stranger-than-fiction Wendels of New York during the Gilded Age embodied F. Scott Fitzgerald’s oft-quoted comment on the rich: 'They are different from you and me.’ It's a thrilling, shocking read.” (Neal Thompson, author of The First Kennedys and A Curious Man)

"Meet the Wendel family: seven reclusive adult siblings living off a family real estate fortune and growing old together in an anachronism of a house on increasingly commercialized Fifth Avenue. Claire Prentice’s lively, deeply researched narrative about this mysterious clan is both a character study as well as a window into New York City from the Gilded Age to the modern era. I really loved this story." (Esther Crain, author of The Gilded Age in New York, 1870—1910, and creator of the Ephemeral New York website)

"Claire Prentice's A Curse of Riches reads like something out of Henry James, but is stranger than any fiction. Here is the riveting, gothic, real-life tale of the wealthiest, weirdest Gilded Age family that you've never heard of. You won't be able to put it down." (Kevin Baker, author of Paradise Alley and America the Ingenious: How a Nation of Dreamers, Immigrants, and Tinkerers Changed the World)

©2022 Claire Prentice (P)2022 Audible Originals, LLC.

Fabulous Forgotten History

A perfect combination of history and narrative, especially if you love learning about the long "forgotten" and untold stories from the past. The author's dedication to the research is evident throughout, and the listener gets to know this enigmatic Gilded Age family at its best and its worst.

I have been waiting for this book for a long time! I worked in the main archive of the Wendel Family (at Drew University) almost two decades ago and always thought those "Weird Wendels," as they were called, would make a great book, and here it is!

Fascinating story! Well written and performed.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the in-depth history of the Wendel family. The way the author portrays the peculiarities of the family and their complicated relationships successfully pulls the listener in and makes them want to continue reading. I learned a lot about a nearly forgotten family and their major contributions to the city of New York. Highly recommended read!

Very interesting

I loved the history. She was very thoughtful in her story. I also was rooting for the same person.

awesome story

the depth of research was excellant and made a interesting story about a part of history!

Great Story

Delightful book. Well written with a great pace and attention to detail. I did not want the book to end! I'd love to see more from this author!

Loved this story

A wonderfully written novel about an eccentric wealthy old New York family. I immediately fell in love with the family and wanted to know more about each and every member of the family. I was disappointed ONLY when the novel was over...only because I was having to say goodbye to them and their ongoing sagas. Reality is so much better than fiction. And historical novels are fascinating. Don't miss this one.

A captivating but sad story

This is a fascinating story of a famous NY family I’d not heard of. Horrific outcomes of the constriction of women through customs, etiquette & law, implications of
which ending rather than perpetuating a legacy. A good listen, captivating story & well narrated.

The Good Old Days

This is a great story of a bygone time when life, love and family were oh so different. This is a fairly long book. I never lost interest because of the writing and the performance.

Great book

I love nonFiction or books based on real life. This did not disappoint. Truly shows that money doesn’t buy happiness!

Interesting

I would recommend this book to anyone with interest in the gilded age or anyone not knowing about this family.