Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr.
Four out of Five Magical Coffee Cups
Huguette Clark!
I bought this book on a whim at the Newberry used book sale in Chicago.
I do love nonfiction. I like hearing about all sorts of history. I saw this book’s cover and grabbed it as fast as I could. Did I reach past another patron to ensure they didn’t snag it first while shouting “Mine!”? The world will never know.
To be so rich! Oh my goodness! So rich! There was around $300 million left when she died. Huguette could buy whatever she wanted whenever she wanted! Was she buying the latest fashion pieces? Was she collecting diamonds? Cars? Constantly traveling the world? No. She bought dolls. A lot of dolls. She also bought very expensive one-of-a-kind doll houses. It wouldn’t be my first choice, but to each their own, I guess.
This book will give you the history of Huguette’s family. You learn a lot about her dad and where this money came from. He had many businesses, a lot of them. I am surprised he was able to keep them all organized.
One might expect a life of wild parties or extravagant travel from someone as wealthy as Huguette. However, her life was quite the opposite. She was a shy woman who spent most of her time with her mother, painting, and her beloved dolls. So many dolls.
She ends up in the hospital just shy of 85 years old and decides never to leave. This woman lived to the age of 104! She stayed in the hospital from 85 (barely) to 104! Twenty years! It’s odd; she just stays. Was she lonely, or was she just content in her ways and found it easier to stay? Did she have some emotional issues? All of those homes, and she is happy to stay in a hospital room? I wish someone had done more to help her.
I loved how generous she was with her money, but as the book went on, I felt many people were taking advantage of her. The book was co-written by one of her relatives, so he may have been biased, but many people were stopping by her room with sob stories and their hands held out.
I enjoyed this one and would like to visit some of the places mentioned in the book. Future road trip? If I do, I will update this blog post with photos!
Have you ever traveled to visit places you have read about? Or do you read about the areas you are about to visit? I tend to read about places I have already visited and think, “Well, now I need to go back.”
Literary Coffee 