Renée Rosen is the bestselling author of historical fiction. Her novels include Park Avenue Summer, Windy City Blues, White Collar Girl, What the Lady Wants and Dollface as well as the young adult novel, Every Crooked Pot. Her new novel, The Social Graces, is a story about Mrs. Astor and Mrs. Vanderbilt vying for control of New York society during the Gilded Age.
Here Rosen dreamcasts an adaptation of The Social Graces:
The Social Graces tells the real-life story of two powerful women, Caroline Astor and Alva Vanderbilt, who go to war over who will control New York society during the Gilded Age. And why are they both obsessed with something as seemingly frivolous as being the head of society? Because back in the Nineteenth Century, that was all women had. Society was the only arena where they could hope to exercise any influence over her existence. So, the stakes were high, and the antics were outrageous. Trust me when I say, fact is stranger than fiction.Visit Renée Rosen's website, blog, and Facebook page.
Caroline Astor, or The Mrs. Astor, as she preferred to be called, was the reigning queen of New York society for three decades. She was both haughty and funny. I think Kathy Bates would capture her perfectly.
Her rival was Alva Vanderbilt. She was younger, far less conventional and a real firecracker. I think Julia Garner, the actress who portrays Ruth Langmore on Ozark would be a perfect choice.
I can see the two of them battling over who could throw the most elaborate ball or dinner party, who could build the bigger mansion, who could spend more on their ball gowns and jewels.
My Book, The Movie: Dollface.
My Book, The Movie: What the Lady Wants.
My Book, The Movie: Windy City Bluess.
The Page 69 Test: The Social Graces.
--Marshal Zeringue
Posts
