love historical nonfiction like this. Factually but gossipy at the same time. The salacious nature of the topic, Mother’s basically pimping their daughters & her dowry in exchange for a title promises a lot of juicy tales. 

I had to DNF this at 18% because the author’s style isn’t working for me. The narration flits a lot from one anecdote to another distracting from whatever story she was sharing in the first place. For example, Chapter 3 is supposedly about “The Buccaneers” but I learned more about a French Empress & a couturier than said American heiresses. 

Ultimately I guess I prefer a more linear, segmented way of storytelling a la Eleanor Herman’s Sex with Kings/Queens.

Such an interesting book about the young women who went after titled Europeans after their American families had become the roaring barons of the Gilded Age. 

Plenty of anecdotal stories are shared and the reader has to smile as these young warriors are sent to conquer Europe.  

Really enjoyable, perhaps accompanied by the wonderful video of THE BUCCANEERS by Edith Wharton. This is a great read for a social history class or book club.

This has always been a popular topic in the US, and should do very well! I know a lot of people will want to read this one!