Surprisingly entertaining! I enjoyed the bits about pre- and post- Civil War NYC society, and the differences between Boston, Philly, and NY in social standing. Glad to be living now, but the author clearly has fondness for her subject.

I'm more than halfway through, but this book is losing me. Too many insets, sidebars, interruptions, and not enough of each person's story. An heiress is introduced, summarized, and gone. Too bad.