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Gilded: How Newport Became America's Richest Resort Paperback – Illustrated, April 1, 2011

by Deborah Davis (Author)
4.4 out of 5 stars 543 ratings
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A beautifully written history of high society in Newport, Rhode Island, from the acclaimed author of Party of the Century

Newport is the legendary and beautiful home of American aristocracy and the sheltered super-rich. Many of the country's most famous blueblood families?the closest thing we have to royalty?have lived and summered in Newport since the nineteenth century. The Astors, the Vanderbilts, Edith Wharton, JFK and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Doris Duke, and Claus and Sunny von Bulow are just a few of the many names who have called the city home. Gilded takes you along as you explore the fascinating heritage of the Newport elite, from its first colonists to the newest of its new millennium millionaires, showing the evolution of a town intent on living in its own world. Through a narrative filled with engrossing characters and lively tales of untold extravagance, Davis brings the resort to life and uncovers the difference between rich and Newport rich along the way.

  • An engrossing multigenerational saga that tells the real story of the rich and famous in Newport
  • Vibrant, praiseworthy writing: ""[Davis] brings splendidly colorful behind-the-scenes action and players up front"" (the New York Times on Party of the Century)
  • 34 evocative black-and-white photographs

    Written with insight and dramatic flair, Gilded gives you a rare peek into the cloistered coastal playground of America's moneyed elite.

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  1. Print length
    320 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Trade Paper Press
  4. Publication date
    April 1, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9781118014011
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1118014011
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Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Praise for "Gilded"

"Delightful . . . .With great wit & panache, Deborah Davis [brings] back to life a glamorous & important slice of American history."
--Dana Thomas, author of "Deluxe"

"The rich are different and so is this book. Deborah Davis is a first-class social chronicler who always serves the good stuff."
--Christopher Tennant, author of "The Official Filthy Rich Handbook"

"Light, entertaining history."
--"Publishers Weekly"

"Peopled by eccentrics who added color to the Newport scene and packed with lively anecdotes, Gilded is a witty and informative guide to this most extraordinary of summer colonies."
--"Country Life"

Newport is the legendary and beautiful home of American aristocracy and the sheltered super-rich. Many of the country's most famous families--the closest thing we have to royalty--have lived and summered in Newport since the nineteenth century. The Astors, the Vanderbilts, Edith Wharton, John F. and Jacqueline Kennedy, Doris Duke, and Claus and Sunny von Bulow are just a few of the many famous people who have called the city home. Through a narrative filled with engrossing characters and lively tales of untold extravagance, "Gilded" takes you along as you explore the fascinating heritage of the Newport elite, from its first colonists to the newest of its new millennium millionaires.

About the Author

Deborah Davis is the author of the acclaimed "Party of the Century: The Fabulous Story of Truman Capote and His Black and White Ball" and "Strapless: John Singer Sargent and the Fall of Madame X." She is a film executive who has worked as a story editor and a story analyst for several major film companies.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1118014014
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Trade Paper Press; 1st edition (April 1, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781118014011
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1118014011
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 out of 5 stars 543 ratings

About the author

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Deborah Davis

Deborah Davis

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Deborah Davis is the author of nine narrative non-fiction books, including Fabritius and the Goldfinch, an Amazon Kindle Single, the best selling Strapless: John Singer Sargent and the Fall of Madame X (Tarcher/Putnam, 2003), Party of the Century: The Fabulous Story of Truman Capote and His Black and White Ball (Wiley, 2006), The Secret Lives of Frames: 100 Years of Art and Artistry (Filipacchi Publishing, 2007), Gilded: How Newport Became the Richest Resort in America (Wiley, 2009), The Oprah Winfrey Show: Reflections on an American Legacy, the authorized history of twenty-five years of the landmark television show and its legendary host (Abrams, 2011), and Guest of Honor: Booker T. Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, and the White House Dinner that Shocked a Nation (Atria, 2012), which won the prestigious Phillis Wheatley Award for best work of History in 2013, and was nominated for an NAACP Image Award; The Trip (Atria, 2015), the story of Andy Warhol’s adventures on a cross-country road-trip in 1963; and The Art of Southern Charm (Diversion,2017), which she co-wrote with Bravo celebrity Patricia Altschul, who reigns as Charleston's most captivating grande dame,

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
543 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book reads like a mystery novel and provides a great walk through Newport's history. Moreover, the book is meticulously researched, with one customer noting it offers great insight into daily lives, and customers describe it as fascinating from start to finish. Additionally, they appreciate the book's beauty and find it easy to read.

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45 customers mention "Readability"45 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging, describing it as a fantastic and fun read that reads like a good mystery novel.

"...The homes are absolutely beautiful. A well-written book that never loses your interest!" Read more

"...Newport is small but has a lot of history that is fun to read about." Read more

"...characters, and is not encyclopedic, but, a fairly simple and enjoyable read...." Read more

"...Really good read!" Read more

32 customers mention "History"32 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the historical content of the book, describing it as a great walk through Newport's history, with one customer highlighting its exploration of the town's developments.

"...The homes are absolutely beautiful. A well-written book that never loses your interest!" Read more

"Short chapters, fascinating characters, interesting facts about one of America's coolest small oceanside cities...." Read more

"...Never mind. This book gives a fascinating account of the history of Newport, and its more colorful characters, and is not encyclopedic, but, a..." Read more

"...In depth history of Newport RI, summer playground of the rich back in the day. Really good read!" Read more

17 customers mention "Information quality"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book very informative and meticulously researched, with one customer noting it provides great insight into the daily lives of its subjects.

"Short chapters, fascinating characters, interesting facts about one of America's coolest small oceanside cities...." Read more

"...THE NARRATIVE WAS GOOD AND VERY INFORMATIVE...." Read more

"...Meticulously researched and written with verve and wit, its historicity is as entertaining as its style...." Read more

"...It was an entertaining and informative book, and it added to my Newport experience...." Read more

9 customers mention "Beauty"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book beautiful, with one customer particularly appreciating its colorful characters and another noting its vivid antedotes.

"...The homes are absolutely beautiful. A well-written book that never loses your interest!" Read more

"...a fascinating account of the history of Newport, and its more colorful characters, and is not encyclopedic, but, a fairly simple and enjoyable read...." Read more

"...is that I hadn’t found and read this book before our visit to that beautiful city and some of the mansions/cottages gracing its shores...." Read more

"...gives clear and detailed descriptions of not only the beautiful Newport cottages/mansions, such as how they came into existence..." Read more

7 customers mention "Enthralling"7 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fascinating from start to finish and entertaining.

"...It was an entertaining and informative book, and it added to my Newport experience...." Read more

"...a compelling novel -- with a city as the main, beautiful and always intriguing, character." Read more

"...I found it quite easy to read with a lot of fascinating details...." Read more

"...Ms. Davis is full of insight, fun facts and true insight into what makes Newport the town that it is...." Read more

3 customers mention "Ease of use"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to use.

"...and its more colorful characters, and is not encyclopedic, but, a fairly simple and enjoyable read...." Read more

"...Very easy and enjoyable read." Read more

"Easy and fun book..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Larry of Douglassville
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating from start to finish!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 25, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    My wife and I have been fortunate to visit Newport in each season, and we have never stopped being fascinated by the place! Christmas is gorgeous, even though the "cottages" were never occupied at that holiday. What is nice about this book is that the author covers "both" Newports---the colonial section, down by the docks, as well as the mansions on Bellevue Ave. Just by chance, on one of our visits, we were fortunate to be there for an open house tour of the colonial homes, and it was similar to what we have in Philadelphia. The homes are absolutely beautiful. A well-written book that never loses your interest!
    11 people found this helpful
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  • P. robb
    4.0 out of 5 stars Great Short History of a Fascinating City on the Ocean
    Reviewed in the United States on November 1, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Short chapters, fascinating characters, interesting facts about one of America's coolest small oceanside cities. Newport is small but has a lot of history that is fun to read about.
    6 people found this helpful
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  • L'escribe
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read - a Must Have for all who love Newport history
    Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    I first withdrew this book from a local library, had to finally give it back so I purchased it on Amazon.com. I visited Newport some years ago, and it does indeed emanate a special aura to the visitor. One can walk down Bellevue Avenue with its splendidly huge "cottages" and almost hear the clip-clop of horses' hooves and see the liveried groomsmen. I adored Cliff Walk, and walked the almost three-mile "hike" alongside the Atlantic, with its perilous drops, hoping I would not slip and not be heard from again, but enjoying the "backyards" of the various "cottages" fronted on Bellevue. Never mind. This book gives a fascinating account of the history of Newport, and its more colorful characters, and is not encyclopedic, but, a fairly simple and enjoyable read. If one would be interested in any specific character in this book, there is always the option of partaking of that biographical character in another volume or two. Suffice, "Gilded" is a nice summer's journey to a Newport of long ago.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Tracy L Fetzer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Condition
    Reviewed in the United States on July 15, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Bought this book for a very good price for “New” and was not disappointed. Arrived in perfect condition as promised. Thank you! As to the book it’s perfect for the Gilded Age fans out there. In depth history of Newport RI, summer playground of the rich back in the day. Really good read!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • DIGGINTHEDIRT
    3.0 out of 5 stars SORELY LACKING IN VISUAL AIDS.
    Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    I REALLY ENJOYED THE READING OF THE BOOK. HOWEVER, WITH ALL THE HOOPLA ABOUT THE GILDED AGE SOME PHOTOS WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT - THIS ERA WAS ABOUT THE PARADING OF WEALTH FOR THE WORLD TO SEE HOW SUCCESSFUL AND PRIVILEGED THE 400 WERE. THE NARRATIVE WAS GOOD AND VERY INFORMATIVE. THE AUTHOR GAVE A REAL SENSE OF WHAT LIFE MIGHT HAVE BEEN LIKE AWASH IN GILT, BUT ALSO A SLAVE TO THE STYLE AND MORES OF THE TIME. SADLY, MUCH OF THE PAST IN NEWPORT HAS BEEN LOST TO THE BULLDOZER AND THEREFORE WE MUST RELY ON THE AUTHOR TO SEARCH THE PHOTO ARCHIVES FOR US WHICH WOULD GREATLY ENHANCE THE WHOLE AS A PROJECT. IT WAS, AFTER ALL, ABOUT VISUAL WEALTH AND SHOWING IT OFF. I FOUND MYSELF DEARLY WANTING A COMPANION VOLUME OF PICTURES FROM THIS FABULOUSLY OVER THE TOP BYGONE ERA TO ENHANCE MY READING EXPERIENCE. STILL, I WOULD SUGGEST THIS BOOK TO ANYONE WHO HAS AN INTEREST IN LEARNING OUR GLORIOUS NEWPORT PAST, AND INCIDENTLY, JUST HOW IT GAVE BIRTH TO THE NOW ICONIC NEWPORT JAZZ FESTIVAL. GET A COMPANION BOOK THAT HAS PICS 'THO.
    20 people found this helpful
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  • Denise A. Kantner
    5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Book
    Reviewed in the United States on October 18, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    We’ve always wanted to visit Newport and were finally able to do so last week with friends who’d never been to New England. My only regret is that I hadn’t found and read this book before our visit to that beautiful city and some of the mansions/cottages gracing its shores. Meticulously researched and written with verve and wit, its historicity is as entertaining as its style. I can’t wait to begin reading my next Deborah Davis book!
    7 people found this helpful
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  • janis
    4.0 out of 5 stars Very good book
    Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    I took my kids to Newport to tour the mansions and the cliff walk, and saw this in the gift shop for $26. I bought it on Amazon for $12, and it arrived at my house in great shape by the time I returned. It was an entertaining and informative book, and it added to my Newport experience. I actually loaned it out, and it is making the rounds on our beach this summer.

    If you have ever been to Newport, or are planning a trip, I highly recommend it .
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Laurene F-B
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you want to know everything about Newport, this is the book!
    Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This is one of the best books I have ever read/purchased!! The author, Deborah Davis, CLEARLY did her research, and I find all of the information she provides in this book fascinating. It reads like a good mystery novel, it's that good. Deborah Davis gives clear and detailed descriptions of not only the beautiful Newport cottages/mansions, such as how they came into existence (the land selection, architect, building materials) and sometimes an approximate dollar cost, but also gives great background information on each of the previous owners of those cottages/mansions. I am so glad I chose this book to read about Newport. I highly recommend this book if you want to know EVERYTHING about Newport!
    9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Georg K
    5.0 out of 5 stars Super angekommen
    Reviewed in Germany on December 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Ein Freund der großer Fan der "Gilde Age" Serie ist und gern in die Gegen reist war hellauf begeistert. da ich das Buch als Geschenk verschenkt habe kann ich sonst nichts zu sagen. Aber für den Fan genau das richtige.
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  • jane K
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 5, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This book was a lovely read and gave an insight into life during the gilded period. An unusual book well written and very descriptive with an interesting ending.
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