I thoroughly enjoyed this book, not just for the social history of the NYC Gilded Age inhabitants, but also for some true historical facts thrown in. For example, did you know that elevators existed as early as 1859? Granted, they weren't very safe since the cables often broke, but they did exist. Then Elisha Graves Otis, invented a safety harness which prevented the cage from plummeting down. It was operated hydraulically until 1889 when electricity was used to power them. And electricity was becoming quite common in business and in residences for lighting well before the 1900s. And telephones were considered useless when first invented for anything other than business. Who would want to speak to a box in the wall instead of face to face? I wonder what people of that time would think today if they saw masses of people staring at their hand held phones instead of having a conversation with the person with whom they shared a table in the restaurant?
The social history is well covered also, discussing everything from leaving calling cards to what restaurants ladies could be seen in at what time of day. How a gentleman could address a lady he meets on the street, what drinks were popular. and even the evolution of lobster as haute cuisine. In today's hyper casual lifestyle, these rules might seem shallow and burdensome, but then knowing the rules for behavior made it easier to navigate among the society that existed at the time. Think Downton Abbey on steroids.
If you have any interest in how people lived during the end of the 1800s and into the beginning of the 1900s, this book is for you. It is fun but also informative and you might just come away with an appreciation for an era long gone.
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From the Publisher
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| Gilded Age Cocktails | Jazz Age Cocktails | Gilded Suffragists | The House on Henry Street | The Truth about Baked Beans | |
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| Price | $18.14 | $11.89 | $18.94 | $17.99 | $19.04 |
| Discover more books from Washington Mews | A delightful romp through America’s Golden Age of Cocktails | How the Prohibition law of 1920 made alcohol, savored in secret, all the more delectable when the cocktail shaker was forced to go “underground” | New York City’s elite women who turned a feminist cause into a fashionable revolution | Chronicles the sweeping history of the storied Henry Street Settlement and its enduring vision of a more just society | Forages through New England’s most famous foods for the truth behind the region’s culinary myths |
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Reviews with images
Should be held in same regard as Emily Post's Etiquette
When Caroline Webster Schermerhorn married William Backhouse Astor Jr. the beginning of modern American society was born. Mrs. Astor became arguably the most celebrated socialite of all time. Throughout her reign, she guided a nation in propriety. She was the perfect mixture of old money values with modern New York Gilded Age style and class. She took it upon herself to address her admirers in etiquette, proper dress, education and used her influence to shape all that was to be expected and accepted.Mrs. Astor has always fascinated me. What kind of woman would command such a loyal following in such a male-dominated time? What was it about her? Whether you think of her as the ultimate Eastern snob or the Preppy Queen of the World this fascinating account of how things were (and in some circles continue to be) from Cecelia Tichi is a must-read for the modern woman. Whether you relish in her accomplishments or are astounded by her snobbery Mrs. Astor's story is noteworthy and is flawlessly told with pictures and drawings to accentuate every grand detail.I would recommend this book for every woman to read at least once in her life. History buffs will love the rare glimpse into this amazing woman's influence. This book should hold its place in the same regard as Emily Post's Etiquette and reserve its place right beside it on the shelf. It’s perfect for a women's book club to read discussing the book at a fun and proper Astor-inspired luncheon at a posh restaurant in the city.
Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2019
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2022
Mrs. Astor has always fascinated me. What kind of woman would command such a loyal following in such a male-dominated time? What was it about her? Whether you think of her as the ultimate Eastern snob or the Preppy Queen of the World this fascinating account of how things were (and in some circles continue to be) from Cecelia Tichi is a must-read for the modern woman. Whether you relish in her accomplishments or are astounded by her snobbery Mrs. Astor's story is noteworthy and is flawlessly told with pictures and drawings to accentuate every grand detail.
I would recommend this book for every woman to read at least once in her life. History buffs will love the rare glimpse into this amazing woman's influence. This book should hold its place in the same regard as Emily Post's Etiquette and reserve its place right beside it on the shelf. It’s perfect for a women's book club to read discussing the book at a fun and proper Astor-inspired luncheon at a posh restaurant in the city.
Should be held in same regard as Emily Post's Etiquette
Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2022
When Caroline Webster Schermerhorn married William Backhouse Astor Jr. the beginning of modern American society was born. Mrs. Astor became arguably the most celebrated socialite of all time. Throughout her reign, she guided a nation in propriety. She was the perfect mixture of old money values with modern New York Gilded Age style and class. She took it upon herself to address her admirers in etiquette, proper dress, education and used her influence to shape all that was to be expected and accepted.Reviewed in the United States on February 22, 2022
Mrs. Astor has always fascinated me. What kind of woman would command such a loyal following in such a male-dominated time? What was it about her? Whether you think of her as the ultimate Eastern snob or the Preppy Queen of the World this fascinating account of how things were (and in some circles continue to be) from Cecelia Tichi is a must-read for the modern woman. Whether you relish in her accomplishments or are astounded by her snobbery Mrs. Astor's story is noteworthy and is flawlessly told with pictures and drawings to accentuate every grand detail.
I would recommend this book for every woman to read at least once in her life. History buffs will love the rare glimpse into this amazing woman's influence. This book should hold its place in the same regard as Emily Post's Etiquette and reserve its place right beside it on the shelf. It’s perfect for a women's book club to read discussing the book at a fun and proper Astor-inspired luncheon at a posh restaurant in the city.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2019
