When the Astors Owned New York: Blue Bloods and Grand Hotels in a Gilded Age Book

I expected a bit more substance from a Pulitzer prize and National Book Award writer. I thought this was a rather superficial characterization of the competition between two of the Astor's - cousins William Waldorf Astor and John Jacob Astor IV. Both tried to outdo the other in providing the rich and super-rich with upscale accommodations in New York City. In the process, they did manage to up the ante on hotel architecture, amenities and decor. Both inherited their fortunes from the founding father, JJA. They both had dysfunctional lives to some extent. William renounced his citizenship and became a subject of Queen Victoria. His primary goal was to achieve peerage which he did in 1916. He became a Viscount. After his mother and wife died, he married a 17 year old girl when he was 46. JJA IV was a pleasure seeking playboy and perished with the sinking of the Titanic.