The Last Castle: The Epic Story of Love, Loss, and American Royalty in the Nation's Largest Home

**"The Last Castle"** by Denise Kiernan is an engrossing historical narrative that unveils the remarkable and untold story of the Biltmore Estate, the grandest private residence in North America. Through a blend of meticulous research and engaging storytelling, Kiernan chronicles the estate’s fascinating history, which spans over 120 years and encompasses significant events like the World Wars, the Jazz Age, and the Great Depression. At the heart of this narrative is Edith Stuyvesant Dresser, who, despite her privileged upbringing and high-profile marriage to George Vanderbilt, finds herself challenged by the immense responsibility of managing the sprawling estate and its intricate legacy. As Kirsten narrates Edith's journey—from her early life to her pivotal role as mistress of Biltmore—readers are introduced to an array of notable historical figures, including F. Scott Fitzgerald, Teddy Roosevelt, and Edith Wharton, who all intersect with the Vanderbilt family’s story. The book paints a vivid picture of the creation of the estate, including collaborations with renowned landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted and architect Richard Morris Hunt, showcasing the grandeur of Biltmore while also revealing the personal and societal challenges Edith faced. "The Last Castle" is a beautifully written and insightful account that celebrates resilience and legacy, making it a must-read for those intrigued by American history and the opulent lifestyles of the Gilded Age.

“The Lost Castle,” is generally a sympathetic view of this oligarch. It is my understanding that the actions of Vanderbilt were more predatory then they come across in this book (concerning land acquisition). I pretty quickly started, wondering if George was gay when reading this book. He never really dated. He had lots of intimate, male friends. I googled it and it appears that he probably was gay. And I appreciate that Black people are at least mentioned in this book. Though it gives me the icks when she talks about Edith opening a school for domestic cleaners/maids/servers for the young black population of the Asheville area and nothing is said about the racists views/culture that created it. It doesn’t have to be super heavy. It could be something like, “I’m sure the black population would’ve been interested in going to school for arts and crafts like their white counterparts, but instead they were provided a school for how to clean the rich white people’s homes.” Oh, well, I guess it still sounds pretty bad. Kieran applauds one graduate of the domestic art school by saying she was so good that she got hired at the Biltmore estate. Yuck. But generally speaking, I feel like I learned a lot by reading this book. Kieran gives more Socio-political context of the events of the house. And I feel like I have a better understanding of American history after reading this book. And I certainly learned some things about Asheville’s history. I saw that some people were not that happy with the focus on Edith. And I think that’s one of the nice aspects of the book.

This is one of the best books I have ever read and is about a favorite place I have visited often; The Biltmore Estates in Asheville North Carolina. I literally could not put this book down! Denise has a wonderful gift as a “wordsmith”. Thank you Denise. ❤️ I am indebted to you for enabling the history of the Biltmore Estates to leap from the pages and completely surround me in a world that I can now vicariously enjoy. Your book is a wonderful extension of that world I have enjoyed ever since I was a young boy, and discovered in a book on the Vanderbilts and the Biltmore Estates. That book was also one of my first purchases for my library which is 1/10 the size of George Vanderbilt’s (in volumes) but proportionately takes up a considerably larger space in my house! 😉 I offer my heartfelt personal “Thank You” to all of the Vanderbilts, starting with George and Edith, that left their mark on this world that I live in now, and to the family members that preserved The Biltmore Estates and its legacy! I myself have been working on a book about the Biltmore Estates that is a “factionary” drama that I hope will someday inspire other people, like Denise has done for me with her book. If you have these interests in the Gilded Age and what happened after the Gilded Age, please enjoy this book. Note: I almost never write reviews. I bought the Kindle version of this book, the Audible version, and the paperback version. I use the Kindle version to search for things that I remember in the hardcopy of a book, and also so I can read this book anywhere I go, when my muse inspires me. I additionally purchased the Audible version of it (which is read very well) so I could enjoy having it read to me at night or while traveling. Important Note: When I finished reading the Kindle version, it brought up a screen to get my rating and my review. What I didn’t realize, is that beyond that, in the Kindle version, are wonderful pictures and additional commentary. Don’t miss those! They are the “icing on the cake”! Final thoughts…I remember visiting George Vanderbilt’s library and he had different copies of books in different languages. I wonder, if he had lived today, how George would have leveraged the Internet and expanded his learning? It’s possible, Elon Musk is an example of that spirit of learning and making a difference today that George Vanderbilt exhibited in a previous era. Books should always inspire us … and my hope is that one day, like Denise, my book will inspire readers from a future time. 💕🚀 “The Last Castle” by Denise Kieran, and the Vanderbilts, await your vicarious visit.

Muy interesante excelente lectura durante la pandemia.

Very well researched, beautifully written, reminded me of Downton Abby in its description of the times, places and People. I highly recommend this Book. I have visited the Biltmore Estate, this Book has inspired me to tour the Estate again. A Book to treasure!

A really good read, well written and only wish I had read this book before visiting Biltmore.

Very detailed biography and less of the design and building of Biltmore residence

Meh!