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Product Description
Review
`a fascinating exploration of the attitude to money shown by two different cultures'
--Sunday Times
`This transatlantic celebration of sisterhood is a most gripping and fascinating tale, both scholarly and a page turner' --Literary Review
'Jehanne Wake has skilfully constructed the Catons' story from their letters. Her book vividly paints a fascinating picture' --The Spectator
`Her book vividly paints a fascinating picture of a transatlantic world where rich women could achieve extraordinary social power...'
--The Spectator
"a rollicking good read, told with verve and compassion" -- Country Life
'outstanding' --Irish Times
"a whirlwind of colourful social history and rich characters" -- Saga
'Splendid...Jehanne Wake has uncovered, and animated, a whole new world'
--The Independent, Christopher Hawtree
`a beguiling account of high society told with authority and style.' --Mail on Sunday
`As good as the author's previous biography of Queen Victoria's eldest daughter and that is saying a great deal.' --Contemporary Review
`The sisters' story emerges from their letters, spiced in Jehanne Wake's entertaining narrative with aristocratic gossip and succinct accounts of (such) half-forgotten history' --Daily Mail
--Sunday Times
`This transatlantic celebration of sisterhood is a most gripping and fascinating tale, both scholarly and a page turner' --Literary Review
'Jehanne Wake has skilfully constructed the Catons' story from their letters. Her book vividly paints a fascinating picture' --The Spectator
`Her book vividly paints a fascinating picture of a transatlantic world where rich women could achieve extraordinary social power...'
--The Spectator
"a rollicking good read, told with verve and compassion" -- Country Life
'outstanding' --Irish Times
"a whirlwind of colourful social history and rich characters" -- Saga
'Splendid...Jehanne Wake has uncovered, and animated, a whole new world'
--The Independent, Christopher Hawtree
`a beguiling account of high society told with authority and style.' --Mail on Sunday
`As good as the author's previous biography of Queen Victoria's eldest daughter and that is saying a great deal.' --Contemporary Review
`The sisters' story emerges from their letters, spiced in Jehanne Wake's entertaining narrative with aristocratic gossip and succinct accounts of (such) half-forgotten history' --Daily Mail
Book Description
As gripping as the best historical novel - an exuberant account of the American sisters who enthralled high society in the wake of Waterloo.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
24 of 24 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a lovely book about four great American sisters. The American revolution was still in living memory when three of the Canton sisters traveled to England. Taking London society by storm , the eldest Marianne, a startling beauty sweeps the Duke of Wellington off his feet, she remained the love of his life, though she finally married his difficult elder brother. Sisters of Fortune is a lovely mix of History and Biography, and Jehanne Wake has written a page turner. I look forward to the TV mini series.
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This biography of four American sisters and heiresses to a post-revolutionary fortune is quite simply superb. Wake charts the extraordinary lives of Marianne, Bess, Lousia (my favourite) and Emily Caton, from their up-bringing in a newly independent America (their adoring Grandfather was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence) to their travels to Europe (but for Emily who stayed at home) where they quickly become the social stars of Regency London. The Regency glitterati all fall for their beauty and charm... and who can blame them!!
Wake's true strengh is the ability to bring to life the exciting and colourful stories of not just the sisters but but aslo the famous historical figures who surrounded them. The Duke of Wellington, the Prince Regent, Jerome Bonaparte (brother of Napoleon), John Quincy Adams, Queen Victoria (to name but a few) all rub shoulders on the pages of this fascinating book.
I do not usually read historical biograph, but boy am I glad I picked this one up after reading about it in the Sunday Times.
Wake's true strengh is the ability to bring to life the exciting and colourful stories of not just the sisters but but aslo the famous historical figures who surrounded them. The Duke of Wellington, the Prince Regent, Jerome Bonaparte (brother of Napoleon), John Quincy Adams, Queen Victoria (to name but a few) all rub shoulders on the pages of this fascinating book.
I do not usually read historical biograph, but boy am I glad I picked this one up after reading about it in the Sunday Times.
19 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Saw the review for this in the Sunday Times and ordered it as it looked so interesting.
Incredibly readable, the author writes like a dream. Hope it gets nominated for lots of prizes as it deserves to be read by loads of people
One of those books where you learn masses without getting bored. America, four sisters, Europe, social history and some of the big names in history from that period, particularly Wellington.
Loved the Anglo American tensions as well - not much changes there then - and the different attitudes to money.
Still unsure who my favourite sister is. Maybe Bess the inside trader .........
Seriously one of those books where you feel you have learned a lot without any pain.
Incredibly readable, the author writes like a dream. Hope it gets nominated for lots of prizes as it deserves to be read by loads of people
One of those books where you learn masses without getting bored. America, four sisters, Europe, social history and some of the big names in history from that period, particularly Wellington.
Loved the Anglo American tensions as well - not much changes there then - and the different attitudes to money.
Still unsure who my favourite sister is. Maybe Bess the inside trader .........
Seriously one of those books where you feel you have learned a lot without any pain.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
Engrossing read
I would thoroughly recommend this book. Jehanne Wake has done a wonderful piece of research in extracting a narrative thread from a series of letters which provides an an... Read more
Published 8 months ago by Catherine
History as it's meant to be told...
I thoroughly enjoyed this book - I could scarcely put it down, which is an achievement indeed for a non-fiction book. Read more
Published 9 months ago by C. Ball
Sisters of Fortune
Sisters of Fortune: The First American Heiresses to Take England by Storm
This is a very good book; well researched and eminently readable. Read more
This is a very good book; well researched and eminently readable. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Betty
A real treat - and full of really interesting things!
This book exceeded my expectations by a huge factor! I had expected a rather fluffy aimiable romp (well after all, one of them married a Marquess, and Wellington's brother to... Read more
Published 18 months ago by bookelephant
Captivated by the Caton Sisters
So much to take in! I'm a big fan of Austen-esque Regency history and high society drama, and this has it all. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Lionel Roars
Seriously addictive
Could not put it down. American Independence, Napoleonic wars, fascinating world of speculation and railway building, beauty, romance and much else. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Babe
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