Suggested Reading
Mrs. Astor Regrets, the Hidden Betrayals of a Family Beyond Reproach
Meryl Gordon
Brooke Astor was a glamorous and respected socialite of New York society. Thanks to her husband, Vincent Astor's largess, Mrs. Astor became an icon of philanthropy funding libraries, museums, the Bronx Zoo, and preserving historic Harlem houses. Her close friends included the likes of David Rockefeller, Nancy Kissinger, and Barbara Walters. As Mrs. Astor ages, her only son, Tony, steps in to take care of her and manage her estate. With such a fortune, why was this lovely and elegant woman left, at the end of life, to live in a scarcely furnished Park Avenue home, isolated, and with little help? While the story devolves into a tragic "ending," it provides us with a glimpse of the wonderful and meaningful life of Brooke Astor which culminates with her son, Tony, standing trial for neglect and abuse. Mrs. Astor Regrets is a well-researched and well-written book that you will want to read again and again.
