A Well-Behaved Woman

Summer reading at its best. I’ve been lapping up historical fiction and this book by Therese Anne Fowler is wonderful. It takes you back in time to one of America’s wealthiest families and tells the story of Alva Smith Vanderbilt Belmont, a prominent multi-millionaire and a woman way ahead of her time. Not only willing to divorce at a time it wasn’t done, but she also used her wealth for good and was an influential suffragist and major force behind the movement, which too few know too little about. Her love of architectural design and her shrewdness and fiery spirit makes her a character for the ages. We have women like her to thank for making our lives more magical and nothing about what she did was mundane.  A must-read!