A Wall Street Journal and Amazon Charts bestseller.The true story of a girl from the wilderness settlements of a burgeoning new America who became one of the most privileged figures of the Gilded Age.Born to a pioneering family in Upstate New York in the late 1800s, Allene Tew was beautiful, impetuous, and frustrated by the confines of her small hometown. At eighteen, she met Tod Hostetter at a … eighteen, she met Tod Hostetter at a local dance, having no idea that the mercurial charmer she would impulsively wed was heir to one of the wealthiest families in America. But when he died twelve years later, Allene packed her bags for New York City. Never once did she look back.
From the vantage point of the American upper class, Allene embodied the tumultuous Gilded Age. Over the course of four more marriages, she weathered personal tragedies during World War I and the catastrophic financial reversals of the crash of 1929. From the castles and châteaus of Europe, she witnessed the Russian Revolution and became a princess. And from the hopes of a young girl from Jamestown, New York, Allene Tew would become the epitome of both a pursuer and survivor of the American Dream.
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This is such an amazing story, it’s even more amazing that is a true story! I really was intrigued by this book because the woman whom the story is about married a man from Pittsburgh which is where I live. But she goes on to have an incredible life and it is inspiring and fun to read! I highly recommend. It!!
“An American Princess” was a great biography of the very interesting life of Allene Tew. I had never heard of her, but this book gave great insight to America’s east coast socialite history through one amazing woman (and her multiple marriages). Highly recommend!
This is a true story of an 18th Century woman who was ahead of her time in many ways but still a product of the Victorian age in many others. She had many misfortunes in her life but never let them get her down. This is a well-written book if you enjoy nonfiction. I would recommend it for the look it gives not only into her life but also the mores and social restrictions of this period in history.
I loved it! Allene New was a fascinating person.
I never heard of Allene Tew until I saw this book cover (on Facebook, I think it was). What a fascinating woman and what a great piece of writing! I thoroughly enjoyed this story.
Really great to know about the life of a real American princess. Life in the 19 and 20 Centuries was more difficult than in our time based on issues like 2 world wars and economic recession but the central point to make business is the same.
Enjoy this book very well written…
A very informative biography of a quite interesting woman who lived through a great deal of history from the Victorian era to the Gilded Age, to two World Wars, and into the Cold War.
A great story about the life of Allene Tew whose life kept changing due to who she married. must read!!!
Allene Tew was a social climber, mainly because of her beauty and impulsiveness. I’m not a fan of the woman herself, but the book is well-written, with the backdrop of WWI, the Great Depression, and the Russian Revolution.
This was a rather dry recounting of history. I learned a lot about this period of time, but I never felt a connection to Allene. She was just a random person but did not invoke any emotion on my part.
The author’s research was well done, but the presentation was lacking.
Thank you to NetGalley and AmazonCrossing for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
I´ve never heard of Allene Tew even though I´ve studied some American History. She lived a great life and was a woman ahead of her time. Courageous, fierceless and an incredible good negotiator who led the life she wanted during a time that women were supposed to be in the background. The author tells us about her life and gives an accurate account of the historical facts that are intertwined with it. Found it most interesting !
I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.
Fascinating!
I Love history!
Reading the life of this woman and all she lived through was an adventure in itself! The history was awesome!
Nonfiction that reads like a novel. Allene is an amazing woman, who was ahead of her times in many ways. Beautiful, intelligent, resourceful are just a few of her many qualities, Most of all she was a survivor. This biography has the added bonus of capturing history.
Very interesting story of the life of an ordinary woman who becomes extraordinary. An interesting read.
This book was so informative and yet so surprising. It brought to light how high society of yesteryear truly was. I found it intriguing.
Great biography of a fascinating life and the history around her.
This book addresses some historical events and presents a very likable character, who seems to persist and stay true to herself in every situation in which she finds herself.
Just so-so.
A very ordinary book about a good looking but lower class woman who married a rich guy. She didn’t do much after that except marry again. No great life story here.