The Social Graces

By: Renée Rosen

Narrated by: Hillary Huber, Saskia Maarleveld

The USA Today Best Seller!

Named one of 2021’s Most Anticipated Historical Novels by Oprah Daily ∙ SheReads ∙ Frolic ∙ BookReporter ∙ and more....

The author of Park Avenue Summer throws back the curtain on one of the most remarkable feuds in history: Alva Vanderbilt and the Mrs. Astor's notorious battle for control of New York society during the Gilded Age.

1876. In the glittering world of Manhattan's upper crust, women are valued by their pedigree, dowry, and, most importantly, connections. They have few rights and even less independence - what they do have is society. The more celebrated the hostess, the more powerful the woman. And none is more powerful than Caroline Astor - the Mrs. Astor.

But times are changing.

Alva Vanderbilt has recently married into one of America's richest families. But what good is dizzying wealth when society refuses to acknowledge you? Alva, who knows what it is to have nothing, will do whatever it takes to have everything.

Sweeping three decades and based on true events, this is the mesmerizing story of two fascinating, complicated women going head to head, behaving badly, and discovering what’s truly at stake.

©2021 Renée Rosen (P)2021 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Witty and beautifully imagined...Rosen delights with breezy dialogue and keen insights into the era. Historical fans will love this." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

"Rosen’s novel opens with a sly wink to that grande dame of the Gilded Age, Edith Wharton, before she deftly spins a captivating tale of her own, based upon the legendary rivalry between Caroline Astor and Alva Vanderbilt. And what a rich story it is, full of opulent balls and monstrous mansions, yet firmly rooted in the parallel struggles of two very different heroines as they fight for their dignity and rights as wives, as mothers, and as women.” (Fiona Davis, best-selling author of GMA Book Club Pick The Lions of Fifth Avenue)

“Delightful! Prepare to be caught up in a high society feud between the Mrs. Astor and upstart Alva Vanderbilt in this wonderful novel of manners and social survival in a time before women could vote. The Social Graces is written with the talented Renee Rosen's unique blend of heart and humor and I flew through the utterly charming pages, not always sure which of these majestic women I should be rooting for.” (Stephanie Dray, New York Times best-selling author of The Women of Chateau Lafayette)

Enjoyable but not my favorite gilded age fiction

While this was enjoyable as historical fiction, I found I disagreed with some of the author's choices of how to fill in the story between gaps of historical records. My own avid reading of many non-fiction and fiction books of the time period gave me very different opinions on some of the actions and traits of these two leading ladies of society.

The story followed an entertaining and logical rhythm switching between Alva and Caroline's perspectives and covered many significant events of their lives and the era. I believe the author did an excellent job balancing the idea of insider and outsider of society so you felt the challenges and triumphs of both.

In the end the author and I have different interpretations of how certain events could have occured and I can't fault her for a different opinion. It was interesting to view this era from a different angle and gave me some new ideas to dive into in future reading and listening.

Narrator voice annoying

The drawn out enunciation by the narrator made me want to stop within the 1st chapter🤑 and that there was no resolution to Lexi's narcissism made it hard to finish

Another time & place

Enjoyed being transported back to a time so unlike today. The role women played in high society was unimaginable. Makes one appreciate how far we’ve come. As a New Yorker, visualizing the places mentioned is an extra treat.

Social Graces

Wonderful listen. I let 1 negative review nearly v keep me from reading this most enjoyed book! I love anything about that period in time,but most especially the 2 women vying for #1spot in New York Society! The reader's voice was a soothing tone&having gotten some really mono tone readers through the year,she was a blessing to fall asleep to! Thank you for such a great read,for me,in all ways!

Billie

Listened to this after enjoying Anderson Cooper’s Vanderbilt book. Highly recommend both of these books and in that order! Renee Rosen made learning about prominent women (and men) in the American Gilded Age fun and engaging💖

Love!!!

I love the story and how is told. I love how it was written.

LOVED IT!

The history, the narration, the details... I didn't want it to end. Just read it.

The dog estimable detail- brilliant

Great book. Unlikeable people made likable. I could not stop listening. Such tragedy and opulence.

5 across

Well written historical fiction of the gilded age. I also enjoyed the narrator— I thought it sounded a lot like Katie Couric!

Interesting and well written

Great narrators and most interesting book. The author has kept it as authentic as possible while keeping us engaged with the characters