For seventy-five years; it’s been Manhattan’s richest apartment building; and one of the most lusted-after addresses in the world. One apartment had 37 rooms; 14 bathrooms; 43 closets; 11 working fireplaces; a private elevator; and his-and-hers saunas; another at one time had a live-in service staff of 16. To this day; it is steeped in the purest luxury; the kind most of us could only imagine; until now. The last great building to go up along New York’s Gold Coast; construction on 740 Park finished in 1930. Since then; 740 has been home to an ever-evolving cadre of our wealthiest and most powerful families; some of America’s (and the world’s) oldest money—the kind attached to names like Vanderbilt; Rockefeller; Bouvier; Chrysler; Niarchos; Houghton; and Harkness—and some whose names evoke the excesses of today’s monied elite: Kravis; Koch; Bronfman; Perelman; Steinberg; and Schwarzman. All along; the building has housed titans of industry; political power brokers; international royalty; fabulous scam-artists; and even the lowest scoundrels.The book begins with the tumultuous story of the building’s construction. Conceived in the bubbling financial; artistic; and social cauldron of 1920’s Manhattan; 740 Park rose to its dizzying heights as the stock market plunged in 1929—the building was in dire financial straits before the first apartments were sold. The builders include the architectural genius Rosario Candela; the scheming businessman James T. Lee (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis’s grandfather); and a raft of financiers; many of whom were little more than white-collar crooks and grand-scale hustlers. Once finished; 740 became a magnet for the richest; oldest families in the country: the Brewsters; descendents of the leader of the Plymouth Colony; the socially-registered Bordens; Hoppins; Scovilles; Thornes; and Schermerhorns; and top executives of the Chase Bank; American Express; and U.S. Rubber. Outside the walls of 740 Park; these were the people shaping America culturally and economically. Within those walls; they were indulging in all of the Seven Deadly Sins. As the social climate evolved throughout the last century; so did 740 Park: after World War II; the building’s rulers eased their more restrictive policies and began allowing Jews (though not to this day African Americans) to reside within their hallowed walls. Nowadays; it is full to bursting with new money; people whose fortunes; though freshly-made; are large enough to buy their way in. At its core this book is a social history of the American rich; and how the locus of power and influence has shifted haltingly from old bloodlines to new money. But it’s also much more than that: filled with meaty; startling; often tragic stories of the people who lived behind 740’s walls; the book gives us an unprecedented access to worlds of wealth; privilege; and extraordinary folly that are usually hidden behind a scrim of money and influence. This is; truly; how the other half—or at least the other one hundredth of one percent—lives.
#99932 in eBooks 2007-12-18 2007-12-18File Name: B000XU8EJ6
Review
20 of 20 people found the following review helpful. I love this bookBy Li RothThere arent many books out there that feature quality photographs identifying butterflies and caterpillars by species. This book does that and more. Although it only features those species that occur in the region in which the authors live (Kentucky is their home state;) the book shows clear pictures of each life stage: egg; caterpillar in both early and late stages; chrysallis; and adult butterfly. Each species also has useful information listed in the text; such as known host plant(s) and favored nectar plants. There are also some additional species shown as adults in the back of the book for which the authors have yet to photo-document an entire life cycle. I have seen this listed as a childrens book; and it would be appropriate for many children; but I find it quite beautiful and informative enough to be suitable for adults as well. Ive been gardening for birds; butterflies and bees for years now. One of my successes was having Black Swallowtail caterpillars the very first year I grew dill for them. But when I bought this book I was able to locate and identify the tiny eggs; and observe the entire life cycle of this species. I live in the Mid-Atlantic region; and most of the butterflies profiled in the book also occur in my area. Some species profiled occur over most of the U.S.--like the Monarch and Painted Lady-- but some are more limited in range. If you live on the Pacific coast; for instance; you might not see many of these butterflies. The photos are still beautiful. The insects featured are still fascinating. And the format of the book is user-friendly.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A MUST HAVE!By Mrs. HollandThis is a MUST HAVE book if you have children who are butterfly enthusiasts and/or are raising a few different species of butterflies. This book has been read so many times; it is now "well loved" and a constant favorite for reference in this house. It is wonderful for learning about the different native varieties; their different molt stages; chrysalis appearances; and how to tell a male and female butterfly apart. Also; it allows the reader to explore the subject of mimicry across species and learn how to tell the species apart. Just an all out; fantastic book!1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Great book for beginners and advanced LepidopteransBy GladewalkerGreat book for beginners and advanced Lepidopterans. Important host plant information included as well as great photos of all stages of metamorphosis for 23 of the most often encountered species.