I enjoyed this book but as others have mentioned, the disruption to the text is excessive and very distracting. I wondered if it might just be the Kindle edition, as sometimes the digital formatting doesn't come through quite right.

Gossipy, episodic, a bit scatterbrained - the topics and dramatis personæ don't always seem to proceed in any sort of organized or logical manner - and yet total cotton-candy fun. (Or candy-floss, depending on your side of the Atlantic!)

Having read a biography of Jennie Jerome Churchill before, it was neat to see her appear here. She and Consuelo Vanderbilt (Duchess of Marlborough) are the most memorable of the many American heiresses the authors follow.

If a history of the Anglo-American marriage mart sounds intriguing to you, this may just be your book. The authors paint a vivid picture of the culture clashes between the different values of American high society and British high society, and one does end up feeling like most of the young American heiresses got rather a bad deal out of the riches for aristocratic status exchange. I finished the book wanting to know more about the histories of a few of the heiresses, which is always good. (Time for more research!)

Very interesting information, however it was presented in such a disjointed format that it was difficult to view the book as a coherent whole. It was more a set of 2-3 page essays on different aspects of the topic, rather than a progressive narrative. This made for frustrating reading, especially on the Kindle.

The info is interesting but the book manages to make it dry

Great look at the actual Buccaneers (after reading Edith Wharton's take on them years ago), the phenomenon of New York society's rejection of the newly rich "detrimentals" and their subsequent conquest of the British aristocracy. So. Much. MONEY. It is insane to think about the kind of money thrown around by these people, for parties or what have you. Also insane how quickly NY society changed both in accommodating the new Wall Street millionaires in their midst and in beginning to emulate British high society. An easy, light read with lots of photos and illuminating tips on the etiquette, fashion and lifestyles of the times.

It's well documented that this was the book that inspired Downton Abbey. So, what can I say? If you like digging into the real life history behind the entertainment you'll probably enjoy this book.

It explains why Anglo-American marriages were such a trend at the turn of the 20th century. It has to do with the Prince of Wales, the impoverished state of many British nobles, the perceived value of social status for the nouveaux riche, the snobbery of New York, and the cultural freshness of Americans.

While occasionally I noticed the book making some sweeping generalizations/stereotypes, and it was chronologically quite jumpy, overall it was interesting. Lots of photographs.

I found this book to be incredibly interesting. I usually stick to the Tudor period when I read, but this book was recommended to me so I gave it a go...loved it! I knew next to nothing about this time period except that the social scene was run by an extremely rigid set of rules. I've been to Newport RI and driven down the beautiful Bellevue Ave lined with the magnificent mansions of the Gilded Age, but never took the time to read about any of their owners.

This book has certainly peaked my interest in this time period, and I've added to my reading list a bunch of other books pertaining to this era, including many of the works of Edith Wharton. I'm also thinking I may have to give Downton Abbey another go. I watched most of the first season via Netflix, but then never kept up with it. Now that I understand the dynamics of Victorian/Edwardian high society a little better, I may enjoy it more.

If you're at all interested in this time period, or are a fan of Downton Abbey, then I highly suggest reading this. Another reviewer put it absolutely perfectly when she said this book is a "...cross between a dynamic history book and a high-society gossip rag". Being written in the style that it is makes this a super easy read and at no time do you feel bogged down by all the names and families being mentioned (it CAN be a little confusing at first, especially if you're new to all these names I was, but you'll catch on). I'm so glad I stepped out of my comfort-zone to read this.