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The Last Castle
- The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation’s Largest Home
- Narrated by: Denise Kiernan
- Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
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Publisher's Summary
From the author of the New York Times bestseller The Girls of Atomic City comes the fascinating true story behind the magnificent Gilded Age mansion Biltmore - the largest, grandest residence ever built in the United States.
Orphaned at a young age, Edith Stuyvesant Dresser claimed lineage from one of New York's best known families. She grew up in Newport and Paris, and her engagement and marriage to George Vanderbilt was one of the most watched events of Gilded Age society. But none of this prepared her to be mistress of Biltmore House.
Before their marriage, the wealthy and bookish Vanderbilt had dedicated his life to creating a spectacular European-style estate on 125,000 acres of North Carolina wilderness. He summoned the famous landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted to tame the grounds, collaborated with celebrated architect Richard Morris Hunt to build a 175,000-square-foot chateau, filled it with priceless art and antiques, and erected a charming village beyond the gates. Newlywed Edith was now mistress of an estate nearly three times the size of Washington, DC and benefactress of the village and surrounding rural area. When fortunes shifted and changing times threatened her family, her home, and her community, it was up to Edith to save Biltmore - and secure the future of the region and her husband's legacy.
The story of Biltmore spans World Wars, the Jazz Age, the Depression, and generations of the famous Vanderbilt family, and features a captivating cast of real-life characters including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Thomas Wolfe, Teddy Roosevelt, John Singer Sargent, James Whistler, Henry James, and Edith Wharton. The Last Castle is the unique American story of how the largest house in America flourished, faltered, and ultimately endured to this day.
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What listeners say about The Last Castle
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Jennifer
- 11-28-17
Very factual
I live near the Biltmore Estate and it truly is amazing!!! This book was very informative but I have to say it was painfully obvious the author/narrator is not trained to perform/read audiobooks. Her tone, intonation and “performance” totally hampered this story. This is not nearly the quality we expect from audible. My only thought is the author made it a requirement that she be the narrator. The book is marketed as a story but it was read like a textbook.
31 people found this helpful
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- NMwritergal
- 10-10-17
So dissappointed. Read The Girls of Atomic City...
...instead. Kiernan wrote that and it was absolutely fascinating. Not this one. It's rare that I give any nonfiction I listen to less than three stars--most gets a 4 with the occasional 5. Really, this felt like one star to me and the only reason I'm giving it 2 is decent writing, a ton of information imparted, and the amount of research Kiernan must have done. And it's probably better in print than in audio.
I downloaded this because Kiernan wrote it. I skimmed the synopsis, which seemed interesting. A month later, I listened. 3 chapters in I wondered who and what the book was about. Hundreds of names had already been mentioned and I couldn't keep track of who they were and if they were important to the story.
Like another book I listened to recently, I slept through a couple hours total of the book, did not rewind and listened to part of it on 1.5 speed, never a good sign.
Bottom line issue: With The Girls of Atomic City, she had first person accounts to draw from, people she interviewed. She didn't with this book. While there are some personal letters quoted, it's not enough to flesh out ANY of the zillion characters so it reads like a stream of hundreds of facts with names attached, few of which I will remember.
28 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 04-02-18
Good story. Needs new narrator.
Narration made me wince on so many occassions I was unable to finish listening. American accent with absolutely no ability to pronoune or enunciate French/foreign words. Isnt there an equivalent of a book editor for audio? Did someone not listen to this before releasing??
13 people found this helpful
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- Anne
- 05-06-18
Interesting story, awful prose, terrible narration
The story of the creation of Biltmore and its industries is interesting and worthy of a book. Having no reason to doubt any of the information in this title, I accept that the facts in it are correct. However, the narrator's grating voice, wooden tone and poor pronunciation of French combined with her tortuously mannered prose and frequently unfounded conclusions to elicit several groans an hour from me as I listened. This may sound unkind. I do not mean to be so. But this production is so far below the standard I've come to expect from Audible that it is only fair to note. I know that Audible was not responsible for the style of writing (and perhaps a sense that the story of Biltmore needed to be told overruled any reservations on that point) but some courageous soul in audio production should have been brutally honest with the author that she would do no good to her book by reading it aloud herself.
5 people found this helpful
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- Mitchell Anderson
- 06-06-20
Very nice capturing of the gilded age
Came here after re-reading Devil in the White city… Enjoyed the crossover of stories and key figures, well-written and paced , brings my visit to Biltmore from decades ago back to life –narration just a bit lacking , but I come from the voiceover world so probably a little extra critical – overall an enjoyable listen, and very nice capturing of the period.
2 people found this helpful
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- Terri Huncharek
- 01-20-20
Reading of your book
I wish you had chosen someone else to read this wonderful story. At times I found myself falling asleep to your voice! It’s a wonderful story and very,very through any next time I’m in Asheville I want to go to Biltmore!!
2 people found this helpful
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- EveryContinent
- 01-11-21
Poignant saga beautifully narrated
The author’s exhaustive research - and the fact that she lives in Asheville - provide a touching experience to this book. It is an enlightening and instructive journey. The far-reaching effects of George Vanderbilt’s prescient eco-vision have been, and will be, appreciated for generations.
1 person found this helpful
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- Mb Shapiro
- 02-12-18
So much more
I normally don’t listen to nonfiction however I thoroughly enjoyed The Last Castle. It is so much more than the story of the Biltmore Estate. Although the estate is a fascinating tale, it was a bonus to get to know so many other characters of the time period.
1 person found this helpful
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- Richie Calloway
- 12-29-17
Wonderful backstory to America's royalty
I loved learning the backstory to the Vanderbilt name and their family's relationship's to some of the great families of America and Europe. Also I enjoyed finding out about how much the family helped shape the town of Asheville, NC into the amazing place it is today. The author/narriator's voice is pleasing and engaging. overall a good and informative book.
1 person found this helpful
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- Tina Murphey
- 01-27-23
What An Amazing Read
This is excellent work by Denise Kiernan and her Narration was perfect. I highly recommend listening to The Last Castle.
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When we talk about human history, we often focus on great leaders, population forces, and decisive wars. But how has the earth itself determined our destiny? Our planet wobbles, driving changes in climate that forced the transition from nomadism to farming. Mountainous terrain led to the development of democracy in Greece. Atmospheric circulation patterns later on shaped the progression of global exploration, colonization, and trade. Even today, voting behavior in the southeast United States ultimately follows the underlying pattern of 75 million-year-old sediments from an ancient sea.
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GREAT Book with a Narrator Who's Falling Asleep
- By aaron on 08-02-20
By: Lewis Dartnell
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Lady on the Hill
- How Biltmore Estate Became an American Icon
- By: Howard E. Covington
- Narrated by: Mirron Willis
- Length: 8 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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Lady on the Hill tells the inspiring story of the 35-year effort to restore a fading beauty, the Biltmore Estate, to her former glory - all without a penny of government funding or outside foundation grants. Central to this true-life tale of rebirth against the odds is George Vanderbilt's grandson William A. V. Cecil, a well-mannered, highly educated man who, when caught up in an idea, becomes a whirling dervish, generating enough energy and enthusiasm to motivate everyone around him.
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An incredibly rich account of Biltmore's history.
- By Anonymous User on 06-03-22
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Autumn of the Black Snake
- The Creation of the U.S. Army and the Invasion That Opened the West
- By: William Hogeland
- Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell
- Length: 15 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1783, with the signing of the Peace of Paris, the American Revolution was complete. And yet even as the newly independent United States secured peace with Great Britain, it found itself losing an escalating military conflict on its borderlands. The enemy was the indigenous people of the Ohio Valley, who rightly saw the new nation as a threat to their existence.
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another swipe at American exceptionalism
- By John R. Walters on 07-23-21
By: William Hogeland
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Born Survivors
- Three Young Mothers and Their Extraordinary Story of Courage, Defiance, and Hope
- By: Wendy Holden
- Narrated by: Elizabeth Wiley
- Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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Eastern Europe, 1944: Three women believe they are pregnant, but are torn from their husbands before they can be certain. Rachel is sent to Auschwitz, unaware that her husband has been shot. Priska and her husband travel there together, but are immediately separated. Also at Auschwitz, Anka hopes in vain to be reunited with her husband. With the rest of their families gassed, these young wives are determined to hold on to all they have left-their lives, and those of their unborn babies.
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Just an incredible story!
- By PCF on 06-03-17
By: Wendy Holden
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Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom
- China, the West, and the Epic Story of the Taiping Civil War
- By: Stephen R. Platt
- Narrated by: Angela Lin
- Length: 17 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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Stephen R. Platt is widely respected for his incisive nonfiction, particularly in regard to his knowledge and understanding of China. With Autumn in the Heavenly Kingdom, Platt details the absorbing narrative of the Taiping Rebellion, which resulted in the loss of 20 million lives. Occurring in the 1850s, this is the story of a cultural movement characterized by intriguing personages such as influential military strategist Zeng Guofan and brilliant Taiping leader Hong Rengan.
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InTOLerable Reader
- By Adam on 07-07-12
By: Stephen R. Platt
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Elephant Company
- The Inspiring Story of an Unlikely Hero and the Animals Who Helped Him Save Lives in World War II
- By: Vicki Constantine Croke
- Narrated by: Simon Prebble
- Length: 9 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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At the onset of World War II, Williams formed Elephant Company and was instrumental in defeating the Japanese in Burma and saving refugees, including on his own "Hannibal Trek." Billy Williams became a media sensation during the war, telling reporters that the elephants did more for him than he was ever able to do for them, but his story has since been forgotten.
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Story of Friendship, Loyalty, and Bravery
- By Patrick on 04-15-15
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Origins
- How Earth's History Shaped Human History
- By: Lewis Dartnell
- Narrated by: John Sackville
- Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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When we talk about human history, we often focus on great leaders, population forces, and decisive wars. But how has the earth itself determined our destiny? Our planet wobbles, driving changes in climate that forced the transition from nomadism to farming. Mountainous terrain led to the development of democracy in Greece. Atmospheric circulation patterns later on shaped the progression of global exploration, colonization, and trade. Even today, voting behavior in the southeast United States ultimately follows the underlying pattern of 75 million-year-old sediments from an ancient sea.
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GREAT Book with a Narrator Who's Falling Asleep
- By aaron on 08-02-20
By: Lewis Dartnell
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Tunnel 29
- The True Story of an Extraordinary Escape Beneath the Berlin Wall
- By: Helena Merriman
- Narrated by: Helena Merriman
- Length: 9 hrs and 33 mins
- Unabridged
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In the summer of 1962, a young student named Joachim Rudolph dug a tunnel under the Berlin Wall. Waiting on the other side in East Berlin were dozens of men, women, and children - all willing to risk everything to escape.
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Gripping
- By Matthew on 09-09-21
By: Helena Merriman
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Dynasty
- The Rise and Fall of the House of Caesar
- By: Tom Holland
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 16 hrs and 5 mins
- Unabridged
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Author and historian Tom Holland returns to his roots in Roman history and the audience he cultivated with Rubicon - his masterful, witty, brilliantly researched popular history of the fall of the Roman republic - with Dynasty, a luridly fascinating history of the reign of the first five Roman emperors.
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Accessible, enjoyable history
- By Mary on 01-28-16
By: Tom Holland
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Astounding
- John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlen, L. Ron Hubbard, and the Golden Age of Science Fiction
- By: Alec Nevala-Lee
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 13 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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 Astounding is the landmark account of the extraordinary partnership between four controversial writers - John W. Campbell, Isaac Asimov, Robert A. Heinlein, and L. Ron Hubbard - who set off a revolution in science fiction and forever changed our world. Â
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Well researched and engaging bio of Campbell
- By Will on 10-31-18
By: Alec Nevala-Lee
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The New One
- Painfully True Stories from a Reluctant Dad
- By: Mike Birbiglia, J. Hope Stein
- Narrated by: Mike Birbiglia, J. Hope Stein
- Length: 5 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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With laugh-out-loud funny parenting observations, the New York Times best-selling author and award-winning comedian delivers a book that is perfect for anyone who has ever raised a child, been a child, or refuses to stop acting like one. Along with hilarious and poignant stories he has never shared before, this audiobook is sprinkled with poetry Jen wrote as she navigated the same rocky shores of new parenthood.
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5 whining hours from formerly-uproarious comedian
- By Thomas Cook on 06-20-20
By: Mike Birbiglia, and others
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Chesapeake Requiem
- A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island
- By: Earl Swift
- Narrated by: Tom Parks
- Length: 12 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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A brilliant, soulful, and timely portrait of a 200-year-old crabbing community in the middle of the Chesapeake Bay as it faces extinction from rising sea levels - part natural history of an extraordinary ecosystem, starring the beloved blue crab; part paean to a vanishing way of life; and part meditation on man’s relationship with the environment - from the acclaimed author, who reported this story for more than two years.
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Great Book - Flawed Narration.
- By Lawrence M. Kelly on 01-31-19
By: Earl Swift
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The Rival Queens
- Catherine de' Medici, Her Daughter Marguerite de Valois, and the Betrayal That Ignited a Kingdom
- By: Nancy Goldstone
- Narrated by: Suzanne Toren
- Length: 16 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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Catherine de' Medici was a ruthless pragmatist and powerbroker who dominated the throne for 30 years. Her youngest daughter, Marguerite, the glamorous "Queen Margot," was a passionate free spirit, the only adversary whom her mother could neither intimidate nor control.
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Fascinating but not what I expected
- By Jim on 09-13-16
By: Nancy Goldstone