American Duchess - by Karen Harper (Paperback)

About the Book

Reimagines the life of American heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt as the reluctant and bullied bride of the Duke of Marlborough before she finds the inner strength to fight for women's equality.

Book Synopsis

Before there was Meghan Markle, there was Consuelo Vanderbilt, the original American Duchess. Perfect for readers of Jennifer Robson and lovers of Downton Abbey.

Karen Harper tells the tale of Consuelo Vanderbilt, her "The Wedding of the Century" to the Duke of Marlborough, and her quest to find meaning behind "the glitter and the gold."

On a cold November day in 1895, a carriage approaches St Thomas Episcopal Church on New York City's Fifth Avenue. Massive crowds surge forward, awaiting their glimpse of heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt. Just 18, the beautiful bride has not only arrived late, but in tears, yet her marriage to the aloof Duke of Marlborough proceeds. Bullied into the wedding by her indomitable mother, Alva, Consuelo loves another. But a deal was made, trading some of the vast Vanderbilt wealth for a title and prestige, and Consuelo, bred to obey, realizes she must make the best of things.

At Blenheim Palace, Consuelo is confronted with an overwhelming list of duties, including producing an "heir and a spare," but her relationship with the duke quickly disintegrates. Consuelo finds an inner strength, charming everyone from debutantes to diplomats including Winston Churchill, as she fights for women's suffrage. And when she takes a scandalous leap, can she hope to attain love at last...?

From the dawning of the opulent Gilded Age, to the battles of the Second World War, American Duchess is a riveting tale of one woman's quest to attain independence--at any price.

From the Back Cover

On a cold November day in 1895, a carriage approaches St. Thomas Episcopal Church on New York City's Fifth Avenue. Massive crowds surge forward, awaiting their glimpse of heiress Consuelo Vanderbilt. Just eighteen, the beautiful bride has arrived not only late but in tears, yet her marriage to the aloof 9th Duke of Marlborough proceeds. Consuelo--bullied into the wedding by her indomitable mother, Alva--loves another, but a deal was made, trading Vanderbilt wealth for a title and prestige, and Consuelo was bred to obey.

At Blenheim Palace, Consuelo is confronted with an overwhelming list of duties, including producing an "heir and a spare," but her marriage is a sham. Consuelo finds an inner strength, charming everyone from debutantes to diplomats, including Winston Churchill, as she fights for women's rights. From the dawning of the Gilded Age to the battles of the Second World War, American Duchess is a riveting tale of Consuelo Vanderbilt's quest to gain independence at last.

Review Quotes

"This is a fascinating story about an extraordinary woman." -- Gill Paul, bestselling author of The Secret Wife

"This absorbing and evocative tale is an excellent reminder of what women have long sacrificed over the centuries for family honor and duty, and how they navigated their circumstances and influence to change the world for the better." -- Heather Webb, international bestselling author of Last Christmas in Paris