The Astors 6 - The End (Pages 259 - end)

 RATING: GOOD

The Astors 5 (Pages 169 - 259)

 

William Waldorf settled down in England with his family. There is an episode in which the newspapers published the announcement of Waldorf's death, which proved to be false, and that information came from William Waldorf's office. That was in summer of 1892.  However, the ruse was soon discovered, and Astor was mocked in the press.

The Astors 4 (Pages 114 - 169)

 

William Backwater didn't like it when his daughter Emily announced her engagement to James von Allen, the son of General von Allen. William made some disparaging comments, and the general challenged him to a duel. Then his second persuaded him to retract his statement in a written apology, and Emily married von Allen.

The Astors 3 (Pages 62 - 114)

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Washington Irving, who was John Jacob's friend, wrote "Astoria" in 1836 at his bequest. The book describes an expedition to the mouth of the Columbia River and the ultimate failure of attempts in the early 19th century to establish a permanent American-controlled commercial base at Astoria. 

The Astors 2 (Pages 55 - 62)

 John Jacob Astor eventually sold the American Fur Company.  In 1834, John Jacob Astor sold his interest on the river to replace the old fur company. He invested his fortune in real estate on Manhattan Island, New York, and became the wealthiest man in America. After 1840, the business of the American Fur Company declined.

New Book - The Astors - Dynasties 1 - by Virginia Cowles (Pages 1 - 55)

 First Published: 1979

The book starts by referring to John Jacob Astor's death in 1848 and how no one cried as he was a ruthless, unkind man.