The Last Tiffany: A Biography of Dorothy Tiffany Burlingham

By: Michael John Burlingham

Narrated by: Travis

Born in 1891, Dorothy Tiffany was the last child in the long line of the famous Tiffany dynasty of jewelers and artisans. As was expected of the young heiress, Dorothy married a wealthy member of the American plutocracy, Dr. Robert Burlingham. But the lackluster life of wealthy young women in early 20th century America held little appeal for Dorothy. Leaving behind her socially prominent husband, she took her children and moved to Europe, where she underwent psychoanalysis with Sigmund Freud.

Dorothy and her children became Sigmund and Anna Freud's longterm houseguests and intimate friends, developing a unique and storied extended family relationship that remains fascinating for its depth and complexity. But Dorothy's quest for fulfillment and a rich inner life ultimately had tragic consequences for those who were dearest to her as she embarked on a path that ultimately led to their downfall.

©1989 Michael John Burlingham (P)2015 New Street Communications, LLC

Critic reviews

"Burlingham's research, insight, and honesty guarantee that each reader will respond intensely: we can no more escape his family than our own." ( The New Yorker)

"Michael Burlingham ... gives his readers more than just a history of his famous grandmother's life. Rather, he has written a biography of the dream of dynasty. ...In a measured, evocative style, Burlingham's biography transcends its immediate subject. The story it tells is one of both the tragedies and regenerative powers of the family." ( Chicago Tribune)

"A drama set in a remarkable time in which New York City matured into an international metropolis, Sigmund Freud revolutionized Western thought, and Hitler rose and was crushed. ... This biography is rich in personal and historical detail." ( The New York Times)