
Mrs. Astor Regrets
The Hidden Betrayals of a Family Beyond Reproach
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Narrated by:
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Lorna Raver
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By:
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Meryl Gordon
About this listen
New York journalist Meryl Gordon has interviewed not only the elite of Brooke Astor's social circle but also the large staff who cosseted and cared for Mrs. Astor during her declining years. The result is the behind-the-headlines story of the Astor empire's unraveling, filled with never-before-reported scenes. This powerful, poignant saga takes the listener inside the gilded gates of an American dynasty to tell of three generations' worth of longing and missed opportunities. Even in this territory of privilege, no riches can put things right once they've been torn asunder. Here is an American epic of the bonds of money, morality, and social position.
©2008 Meryl Gordon (P)2009 TantorListeners also enjoyed...
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- By: Bill Dedman, Paul Clark Newell Jr.
- Narrated by: Kimberly Farr
- Length: 13 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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When Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Bill Dedman noticed in 2009 a grand home for sale, unoccupied for nearly 60 years, he stumbled through a surprising portal into American history. Empty Mansions is a rich mystery of wealth and loss, connecting the Gilded Age opulence of the 19th century with a 21st-century battle over a $300 million inheritance. At its heart is a reclusive heiress named Huguette Clark, a woman so secretive that, at the time of her death at age 104, no new photograph of her had been seen in decades.
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Fascinating, But Know This...
- By Karen K on 04-08-15
By: Bill Dedman, and others
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The Rainbow Comes and Goes
- A Mother and Son on Life, Love, and Loss
- By: Anderson Cooper
- Narrated by: Anderson Cooper, Gloria Vanderbilt
- Length: 6 hrs and 16 mins
- Unabridged
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Though Anderson Cooper has always considered himself close to his mother, his intensely busy career as a journalist for CNN and CBS affords him little time to spend with her. After she suffers a brief but serious illness at the age of ninety-one, they resolve to change their relationship by beginning a yearlong conversation unlike any they have ever had before. The result is a correspondence of surprising honesty and depth in which they discuss their lives, the things that matter to them, and what they still want to learn about each other.
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Enjoyed the early parts
- By Dedrick on 07-06-16
By: Anderson Cooper
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Kingmaker
- Pamela Harriman's Astonishing Life of Power, Seduction, and Intrigue
- By: Sonia Purnell
- Narrated by: Louise Brealey
- Length: 16 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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When Pamela Churchill Harriman died in 1997, the obituaries that followed were predictably scathing–and many were downright sexist. Written off as a mere courtesan and social climber, her true legacy was overshadowed by a glamorous social life and her infamous erotic adventures. Much of what she did behind the scenes–on both sides of the Atlantic–remained invisible and secret. That is, until now: with a wealth of fresh research, interviews and newly discovered sources, Sonia Purnell unveils for the first time the full, spectacular story of how she left an indelible mark on the world today.
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Pamela reigns! But.....
- By Lucy Johnson on 11-30-24
By: Sonia Purnell
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The Second Mrs. Astor
- By: Shana Abe
- Narrated by: Lauren Ezzo
- Length: 10 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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Madeleine Talmage Force is just 17 when she attracts the attention of John Jacob "Jack" Astor. Jack's mother was the Mrs. Astor, American royalty and New York's most formidable socialite. Despite their 29-year age difference and the scandal of Jack's recent divorce, Madeleine falls headlong into love. On their honeymoon in Egypt, the newlyweds finally find a measure of peace away from photographers and journalists. Madeleine feels truly alive for the first time - and is happily pregnant. The couple plans to return home in the spring of 1912, aboard an opulent new ocean liner.
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I did not want this to end ...
- By Georgia on 10-11-21
By: Shana Abe
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The Last Castle
- The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation’s Largest Home
- By: Denise Kiernan
- Narrated by: Denise Kiernan
- Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins
- Unabridged
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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.
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Very factual
- By Jennifer on 11-28-17
By: Denise Kiernan
What listeners say about Mrs. Astor Regrets
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- B. M. Sithole
- 01-06-18
Captivating. Intriguing.
I loved it. Very captivating. I enjoyed the reader as well as the story being told.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 05-22-23
Intriguing.
I love biographical stories. I went to my computer several times during the listening to see photos and more info on the people in this telling. Very articulate narrator. Very sad story overall of families torn apart due to greed.
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- MCS
- 10-09-23
Loved this book!
I thought this was well-written and well-narrated, and the story was fun and intriguing. I have read a few books on the Astor's and this was the best. Anderson Cooper's book was good, but as he referenced this one, I tried it. I was not disappointed. If you want a great story of dysfunctional family dynamics, this is it. My only disappointment is it was published before the end of the criminal trial, I would love the next addition to include the trial and final outcome. Alas, one needs to read the final chaper from newspaper accounts!
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- S. Chapin
- 05-18-12
Ended too soon
It was an interesting and sad story of a family with little love. Wished the end would have included the trial and how the will was distributed
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3 people found this helpful
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- Cecilia Sheppard
- 03-08-18
A lot of characters.
Would you consider the audio edition of Mrs. Astor Regrets to be better than the print version?
Loved the book, well read by the narrator. There were, however, a lot of people in the story to keep track of...but I guess that's what happens when you are Brooke Astor.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Mrs. Astor Regrets?
The saddest thing was the lack of familial love between Mother and son, father and sons.
What about Lorna Raver’s performance did you like?
Loved her...her calming voice made following the story easier.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
NO. Needed a break from the fighting.
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall
- julene
- 08-10-19
New York gossip, places and sad money
A bit repetitive, but very interesting. A bit repetitive, but very interesting. A bit repetitive...
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- Annastasia Beaverhousen
- 06-11-20
Everything Brooke Astor
A page turner. Can't believe that greed in such a rich family could be this horrible for the matriarch.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Mark Waldron
- 04-06-23
I enjoyed it
I liked this book for a frothy sort of listen. I enjoy the narrators voice, and thought it was a good match for the subject of the book.
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- Akos Szilvasi
- 04-20-23
Exceptional work
I wasn’t interested in Mrs. Astor’s life. Started listening to this book because I read about Brooke Astor in a poem. I was sucked in. The narrator is perfect for the story.
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- Lulu
- 09-23-22
Wanted More!
This is an excellent book! I was just left wanting to know about the trial and how Tony and Charlene faired from Mrs. Astor’s will.
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