'Empty Mansions' uncovers the fascinating life of Huguette Clark, a reclusive millionaire and her mysterious, abandoned mansions. Through a blend of investigative journalism and personal narrative, Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr. reveal a world of extravagant wealth juxtaposed with isolation. What secrets lie within the walls of these empty homes? The story delves into themes of legacy, loneliness, and the pursuit of happiness amidst opulence. Prepare to be intrigued by the unexpected twists in Huguette's life and the treasures hidden in plain sight.
By Bill Dedman, Paul Clark Newell, Jr.
Published: 2014
"The real measure of wealth is not how much you have, but how much you give to others, a lesson woven into the tapestry of a life lived in the shadows of opulence."
#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY Janet Maslin, The New York Times • St. Louis Post-Dispatch When Pulitzer Prize–winning journalist Bill Dedman noticed in 2009 a grand home for sale, unoccupied for nearly sixty years, he stumbled through a surprising portal into American history. Empty Mansions is a rich mystery of wealth and loss, connecting the Gilded Age opulence of the nineteenth century with a twenty-first-century battle over a $300 million inheritance. At its heart is a reclusive heiress named Huguette Clark, a woman so secretive that, at the time of her death at age 104, no new photograph of her had been seen in decades. Though she owned palatial homes in California, New York, and Connecticut, why had she lived for twenty years in a simple hospital room, despite being in excellent health? Why were her valuables being sold off? Was she in control of her fortune, or controlled by those managing her money? Dedman has collaborated with Huguette Clark’s cousin, Paul Clark Newell, Jr., one of the few relatives to have frequent conversations with her. Dedman and Newell tell a fairy tale in reverse: the bright, talented daughter, born into a family of extreme wealth and privilege, who secrets herself away from the outside world. Huguette was the daughter of self-made copper industrialist W. A. Clark, nearly as rich as Rockefeller in his day, a controversial senator, railroad builder, and founder of Las Vegas. She grew up in the largest house in New York City, a remarkable dwelling with 121 rooms for a family of four. She owned paintings by Degas and Renoir, a world-renowned Stradivarius violin, a vast collection of antique dolls. But wanting more than treasures, she devoted her wealth to buying gifts for friends and strangers alike, to quietly pursuing her own work as an artist, and to guarding the privacy she valued above all else. The Clark family story spans nearly all of American history in three generations, from a log cabin in Pennsylvania to mining camps in the Montana gold rush, from backdoor politics in Washington to a distress call from an elegant Fifth Avenue apartment. The same Huguette who was touched by the terror attacks of 9/11 held a ticket nine decades earlier for a first-class stateroom on the second voyage of the Titanic. Empty Mansions reveals a complex portrait of the mysterious Huguette and her intimate circle. We meet her extravagant father, her publicity-shy mother, her star-crossed sister, her French boyfriend, her nurse who received more than $30 million in gifts, and the relatives fighting to inherit Huguette’s copper fortune. Richly illustrated with more than seventy photographs, Empty Mansions is an enthralling story of an eccentric of the highest order, a last jewel of the Gilded Age who lived life on her own terms.
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“The real measure of wealth is not how much you have, but how much you give to others, a lesson woven into the tapestry of a life lived in the shadows of opulence.”
Empty Mansions
By Bill Dedman, Paul Clark Newell, Jr.
Discover a world of knowledge through our extensive collection of book summaries.
Bill Dedman is an award-winning journalist and author known for his investigative reporting and compelling storytelling. He gained national recognition for his book 'Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huntington Hartford, the One-Time Heir to the Vanderbilt Fortune,' which he co-authored with Paul Clark Newell Jr. The book combines deep research with narrative flair, illuminating the life of a reclusive heiress and her opulent, yet abandoned, estate. Dedman's writing style is characterized by meticulous detail and a vivid sense of place, often weaving together historical context with personal narratives. In addition to his work in print, Dedman has contributed to various media outlets and continues to engage audiences with his explorations of American history and culture.
Paul Clark Newell, Jr. is an acclaimed author known for his captivating storytelling and nuanced character development. His notable works include 'The Muralist', a richly imagined narrative that explores the intersections of art and personal struggle, and 'The House on the Hill', which weaves a tapestry of family history and regional identity. Newell's writing style is characterized by lyrical prose and a keen observation of the human experience, drawing readers into intricate worlds filled with depth and emotion. He has received numerous accolades for his contributions to contemporary literature and continues to inspire readers with his profound insights into life and creativity.
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