American Gilt
Debút
by JD Peterson
This title was previously available on NetGalley and is now archived.
Pub Date 27 Jul 2017 | Archive Date 25 Jul 2018
Description
Newport, R.I. 1880 - American débutante Sara Swan Whiting has been trained for one purpose: to marry well into society. Together with her friends Carrie Astor and Edith Jones (Wharton), Sara débuts into society and is introduced to the bachelors of New York’s wealthy families, hoping to find the perfect marriage. ‘Ethereally beautiful’ and ‘the spirit of the ball’, Sara garners many suitors. But none steal her heart, until she is introduced to Oliver Belmont.
Raised in the privileged style of his family’s wealth, Oliver is pressured to find a suitable vocation, but prefers a gentleman’s life of leisure. Sent to the naval academy by his parents, he begs to resign, and then shows up at his mother’s Paris suite unannounced – away without leave. Realizing marriage will offer him freedom from his father’s constant insistence on a career, Oliver sets his sights on the naïve and beautiful Miss Whiting.
While on an afternoon outing Oliver spontaneously proposes marriage, breaking protocol by not getting his parents approval first. Sara accepts the proposal – only to discover his parents disapprove of the match. In an age when royal titles and large dowries were exchanged through marriage, Oliver and Sara find themselves forced to deal with the decorum of Gilded Age society while embracing their newfound love.
Based on the true account of the Belmont-Whiting Scandal of 1883.
Previously published as "SWAN SONG - The Vocation of Marriage"
Advance Praise
Excellent!!
By Ted S. Mayo 9/16/2015
This was the best gilded age novel I have read in such a long time. It was full of colorful details of the era and very believable characters.
Five Stars 5.0 out of 5 stars
5.0 out of 5 stars
By Amy Holmgren 9/16/2015
I literally could not put this book down! I felt like I had been transported into another time and place! I love the settings, and I love the characters. I feel like I know them personally.
5.0 out of 5 starsTotally hooked!
ByL. Colveron October 4, 2015
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
I love true history and I love novels..This is the best of both worlds. It typically takes me a little while to get into a book, but this one grabbed me fast. If you love period pieces, this is so fun to read and to know that these people really did live these decadent lifestyles just takes your imagination away.
By Steve Ehret on October 3, 2016
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
I began reading the series before it was completed and I t was painful to wait for for the next books. I can also say that I became more hooked as I dove into the second and third book feeling like I really knew and cared about the characters.
5.0 out of 5 starsI
By Shane on August 25, 2015
Format: Paperback|Verified Purchase
I could not put this book down!!!! It kept me up late into the night.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Ebook |
| ISBN | 9781533468536 |
| PRICE | $0.99 (USD) |
Links
Available on NetGalley
Featured Reviews
Mina V, Reviewer
this book was fun to read, I liked the characters and the story line was very good. Real world situations made it believable. At times it felt a little stiff to me. It was well worth a read if you like a little bit of mystery and crime and a lot of romance.
Nancy W, Reviewer
It is in Newport, RI that Sara Swan Whitting first sees Oliver Hazard Perry Belmont as she is entering a party. She is a new debutante and can have most any admirer she wants but she wants Oliver from the first. He is being sent to sea with the Navy. He hates it and gets his parents to get him out of the Navy. Sara travels with her mother to Paris and sees Oliver again. It is the Gilded age and Sara must be careful of her reputation. Oliver wants to marry her but his parents are wanting him to have an occupation and be settled before thinking of marriage. His mother does not think Sara is good enough for him and put what ever roadblock his parents can think of to separate them. Read to see the whole story and what happens to these young people.
Sabine C, Reviewer
Meet Sarah Swan Whiting - a well-to-do debutante who has been trained and educated for the sole purpose of marrying well into Society. Naive and beautiful, she has many suitors but believes in marriage for love. When she meets wealthy Oliver Belmont, she knows immediately that he is The One. But Oliver enjoys the gentleman of leisure lifestyle and his parents do not approve either of Sarah nor of his chosen lifestyle... Will he make the right choice of husband for Sarah? Based on the true account of the Belmont-Whiting Scandal of 1883, this novel totally transported me to a glittering age of balls and parties at the turn of the 20th century. I could simply not put this book down. I cannot wait to read the sequel.
