The Last Castle

The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation’s Largest Home

De: Denise Kiernan

Narrado por: Denise Kiernan

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.

©2017 Denise Kiernan (P)2017 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved.

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.

Fascinating

This was a completely riveting read about a home I've always been fascinated with. I loved the background, the description, and all the details. The last section, after George died, lagged a bit and wasn't nearly as interesting. It felt like a rush to wrap everything up after that and I didn't feel we got a full picture of what life was like for the women after his death. It felt like a sad dismantling of all he'd worked to build, although thankfully done in such a way that his biggest legacy remained intact. I also found Cornelia extremely hard to relate to and unlikeable. I had a lot of questions about her actions and motivations that were left unanswered. I also couldn't get a feel for how her and Edith's relationship weathered all the changes. I loved that the author gave us a glimpse of what the future held for all the major characters. A really well-researched and written book.

Great story, mediocre narration.

The information was very interesting however the narrator’s voice didn’t seem like a good fit.

Interesting history!

Really great insight into the financial decisions needed to keep this beautiful property going. I’ve got the itch to see it again, now that I have more knowledge. Biltmore is still breathtaking!

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.