American Duchess: A Novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt - Softcover

Harper, Karen

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0062748335 ISBN 13: 9780062748331

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks, 2019

Synopsis

Before there was Meghan Markle, there was Consuelo Vanderbilt, the original American Duchess.  Perfect for readers of Jennifer Robson and lovers of Downton Abbey.

In this compelling work of biographical fiction, Karen Harper tells the tale of Consuelo Vanderbilt, her "The Wedding of the Century" to the Duke of Marlborough, and her quest to find meaning behind "the glitter and the gold."

On a cold November day in 1895, a carriage approaches St Thomas Episcopal Church on New York City’s Fifth Avenue. Massive crowds surge forward, awaiting their glimpse of heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt. Just 18, the beautiful bride has not only arrived late, but in tears, yet her marriage to the aloof Duke of Marlborough proceeds. Bullied into the wedding by her indomitable mother, Alva, Consuelo loves another. But a deal was made, trading some of the vast Vanderbilt wealth for a title and prestige, and Consuelo, bred to obey, realizes she must make the best of things.

At Blenheim Palace, the site of her arranged marriage, Consuelo is confronted with an overwhelming list of duties, including producing an "heir and a spare," but her relationship with the duke quickly disintegrates. Consuelo finds an inner strength, charming everyone from debutantes to diplomats including Winston Churchill, as she fights for women’s suffrage. And when she takes a scandalous leap, can she hope to attain love at last…?

From the dawning of the opulent Gilded Age, to the battles of the Second World War, this sweeping historical romance, American Duchess is a riveting tale of one woman’s quest to attain independence―at any price.

About this title

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author KAREN HARPER is a former Ohio State University instructor and high school English teacher. Published since 1982, she writes contemporary suspense and historical novels about real British women. Two of her recent Tudor-era books were bestsellers in the UK and Russia. Harper won the Mary Higgins Clark Award for Dark Angel, and her novel Shattered Secrets was judged one of the best books of the year by Suspense Magazine.

From the Back Cover

On a cold November day in 1895, a carriage approaches St. Thomas Episcopal Church on New York City’s Fifth Avenue. Massive crowds surge forward, awaiting their glimpse of heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt. Just eighteen, the beautiful bride has arrived not only late but in tears, yet her marriage to the aloof 9th Duke of Marlborough proceeds. Consuelo—bullied into the wedding by her indomitable mother, Alva—loves another, but a deal was made, trading Vanderbilt wealth for a title and prestige, and Consuelo was bred to obey.

At Blenheim Palace, Consuelo is confronted with an overwhelming list of duties, including producing an “heir and a spare,” but her marriage is a sham. Consuelo finds an inner strength, charming everyone from debutantes to diplomats, including Winston Churchill, as she fights for women’s rights. From the dawning of the Gilded Age to the battles of the Second World War, American Duchess is a riveting tale of Consuelo Vanderbilt’s quest to gain independence at last.

Edition details

• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0062748335
• ISBN 13: 9780062748331
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 368