Title: The Last Castle

Author: Denise Kiernan

Publisher: Touchstone 2017

Genre: U.S. History

Pages: 388

Rating: 4/5 stars

Reading Challenges: Perpetual - Nonfiction Adventure; Popsugar - 2017 Prompt (Recommended by a Librarian); Modern Mrs. Darcy - Biography

A New York Times bestseller with an "engaging narrative and array of detail” (The Wall Street Journal), the “intimate and sweeping” (Raleigh News & Observer) untold, true story behind the Biltmore Estate—the largest, grandest private residence in North America, which has seen more than 120 years of history pass by its front door.

This was our book club selection for June and I was super excited to read it. I love social history and the subject matter was something I knew little about. I must say that after reading this book, I know a lot more about the Vanderbilts, various other contemporary figures, random concurrent historical events, and Biltmore itself. The story lends itself to a fascinating look at the rise and (somewhat) fall of one of America's great families. What I found even more interesting was the surrounding non-Vanderbilt characters. The residents and employees of Biltmore contributed in many ways to the construction and building of the great house. I Overall a very interesting book. At times the writing became a bit too detailed and slowed down my reading, but I made it through to the end and learned a lot in the process. 

Next up on the TBR pile: