Empty Mansions

There is a ton of history in this book about a family I didn't know existed before reading this. The author tracks the family from the Civil War through 2011. The family's story begins with an upstart young man seeking his fortune and ends with his very wealthy daughter keeping herself locked away from the world. Parts of the story are very interesting, but parts of it get a little tedious. Some parts feel a little drawn out and tangential. The authors did a great job of trying to portray all the of the people in her life with their true motives in mind and not just their actions. I'm glad I've read it and know more about this family that has a county named after them.

In the end the mystery of Huguette Clark is still a mystery. We don't really know what to think about who she was and who she became. She was eccentric and an enigma. She remained so until her death. We only know what she let us know and a few years removed from her death that holds true.