American Duchess: A Novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt

American Duchess: A Novel of Consuelo Vanderbilt
by Karen Harper

American Duchess is based on the life and marriage of Consuelo Vanderbilt, an American heiress forced into a marriage with the ninth Duke of Marlborough. Though she was only 18 and in love with another man, her mother forced her to marry, trading Vanderbilt money for a title. Despite her youth and strict (and sometimes harsh) upbringing, she manages to make a difference in the lives of those around her with her charity work and good will. The book spans her adult life and includes her friendship with Winston Churchill as well as her experiences during the onset of the second World War. Karen Harper writes in a first person narrative, giving the book the feel of a memoir. This book is a new title in the library, and can be found in the Adult Fiction section.