The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home

Muy interesante excelente lectura durante la pandemia.

A really good read, well written and only wish I had read this book before visiting Biltmore.

This book is full of fascinating details, but it's slow-going. It's clearly well-researched (the last 100 pages include notes and sources, an index, a book club guide, and an interview with the author). It's the perfect book to read before a Biltmore visit, but don't expect to start the week before!

Very detailed biography and less of the design and building of Biltmore residence

This book is as much about the Vanderbilts as it is about Biltmore House -- 60% family and 40% house, so temper your expectations. If you want a lot about the house, you are going to be bored with much of the family stuff. If you have an affinity for Biltmore House in general, then you can wade through everything and come out with a more comprehensive view of both the house, the family, and the staff who helped create and run it. I got my money's worth, but kept wanting more about the house itself as I read through the book. I found the main title misleading. I have been to Biltmore and you will appreciate the book if you have visited BH, or use it to prepare for a visit. In the abstract, the book would not make good reading. Like the house, admission prices have gotten expensive. Christmas is wonderful time to visit with all the decorations. I visit Asheville on a regular basis. Some of the information about the Grove Park Inn and Village captured my attention as well as the development of the crafts industry spearheaded by Edith Vanderbilt. Overall the writing is good but not stellar. In the end, you will get a good idea about the house, but not a really thorough one. Unless you have seen some of the rooms described in the book, you can't appreciate what the author is talking about. A complaint is that the book sometimes reads like the author has copied either from the society pages of the New York paper, or from someone's diary. I really was not interested in the details of what was served for dinner or what so-and-so was wearing. In this respect, the book will be great for researchers 200 years hence wanting details of life in 1910, but I found it pretentious. It's the kind of filler high school kids use from a source when they are trying to get to 1,000 words. Interestingly, Edith Vanderbilt (George's wife), is featured prominently and favorably in the book. That is a plus for supporting positive female role models. The author has also penned another book titled "Atomic City Girls" which a friend is reading. I think Kenan likes strong female characters. Overall an informative and useful book, but not a real thriller or page turner. I read it in bits and pieces before going to bed. It would have been hard to sit with it for several hours at a time.