Fortune s Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt

Wall Street Journal Bestseller

For fans of Downton Abbey, a real-life American version of the Crawley family—Fortune's Children is an enthralling work of American history that recreates the drama, splendor, and wealth of the legendary Vanderbilt family.

Vanderbilt: The very name is synonymous with the Gilded Age. The family patriarch, "the Commodore,” built a fortune that made him the world's richest man by 1877. Yet, less than fifty years after his death, no Vanderbilt was counted among the world's richest people. Written by descendant Arthur T. Vanderbilt II, Fortune's Children traces the dramatic and amazingly colorful history of this great American family, from the rise of industrialist Cornelius Vanderbilt to the fall of his progeny—wild spendthrifts whose profligacy bankrupted a vast inheritance.

This riveting family saga chronicles the astounding rise and spectacular fall of an American dynasty, detailing:

• The Gilded Age: A vivid portrait of an era of epic extravagance, from the great Fifth Avenue mansions to the social wars of New York society.
• From Rags to Riches: The incredible story of "Commodore" Cornelius Vanderbilt, the patriarch who built a railroad and shipping empire to become the richest man in the world.
• A Dynasty's Fall: An inside look at the wild spendthrifts and profligate heirs whose choices dismantled one of the world's greatest fortunes in less than fifty years.
• An Insider's Account: Written by a family descendant, Arthur T. Vanderbilt II, offering a unique and personal perspective on the legendary family's history.

Arthur T. Vanderbilt II is the author of many books, among them Changing Law, a biography of his grandfather Arthur T. Vanderbilt, which won the American Bar Association's Scribes Award. He practices law in New Jersey.