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An American Beauty: A Novel of the Gilded Age Inspired by the True Story of Arabella Huntington Who Became the Richest Woman in the Country

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"Abé is an exquisite storyteller." —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Magnolia Palace The New York Times bestselling author of The Second Mrs. Astor returns with a spellbinding new book perfect for fans of HBO’s The Gilded Age and readers of Marie Benedict, Karen Harper, and Allison Pataki. This sweeping novel of historical fiction is inspired by the true rags-to-riches story of Arabella Huntington—a woman whose great beauty was surpassed only by her exceptional business acumen, grit, and artistic eye, and who defied the constraints of her era to become the wealthiest self-made woman in America. 1867, Richmond, Virginia: Though she wears the same low-cut purple gown that is the uniform of all the girls who work at Worsham’s gambling parlor, Arabella stands apart. It’s not merely her statuesque beauty and practiced charm. Even at seventeen, Arabella possesses an unyielding grit, and a resolve to escape her background of struggle and poverty. Collis Huntington, railroad baron and self-made multimillionaire, is drawn to Arabella from their first meeting. Collis is married and thirty years her senior, yet they are well-matched in temperament, and flirtation rapidly escalates into an affair. With Collis’s help, Arabella eventually moves to New York, posing as a genteel, well-to-do Southern widow. Using Collis’s seed money and her own shrewd investing instincts, she begins to amass a fortune. Their relationship is an open secret, and no one is surprised when Collis marries Arabella after his wife’s death. But “The Four Hundred”—the elite circle that includes the Astors and Vanderbilts—have their rules. Arabella must earn her place in Society—not just through her vast wealth, but with taste, style, and impeccable behavior. There are some who suspect the scandalous truth, and will blackmail her for it. And then there is another threat—an unexpected, impossible romance that will test her ambition, her loyalties, and her heart . . . An American Beauty brings to vivid life the glitter and drama of a captivating chapter in history—and a remarkable woman who lived by her own rules. “This story of one woman’s ascent offers a fascinating look at the choices she made to become a Gilded Age titan.”— Kirkus Reviews Read more

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Kensington (April 25, 2023)


Language ‏ : ‎ English


Paperback ‏ : ‎ 384 pages


ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1496739426


ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 21


Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds


Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.48 x 0.97 x 8.21 inches


Best Sellers Rank: #2,387 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #12 in Biographical Historical Fiction #23 in Biographical Fiction (Books) #594 in Women's Literature & Fiction


#12 in Biographical Historical Fiction:


#23 in Biographical Fiction (Books):


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Top Amazon Reviews

    • Historical fiction at its finest!
I can only start this review one way. Wow! What a story! The author begins near the end of 1902, with Lucy, a sales clerk, from The Town Topics Publishing Co. arriving to see Mrs Huntington. Lucy’s employer is trying to gouge the widow of Collis P. Huntington to pay the hefty price of $10,000 for a copy of its newest publication “Fads and Fancies of Representative Americans at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century: being a Portrayal of their Tastes, Diversions, and Achievements.” From there, the author sends the reader back to 1867 and into the life of Arabella D. Yarrington - a beautiful 17 year old- who is working as a champagne girl at one of the many illegal drinking and gambling houses that Johnny Worsham owns in Richmond. Arabella’s father has died and left behind his wife and five children on the verge of starvation. Arabella’s job makes the difference between their eating or starving. Arabella is not only beautiful, she is smart. She is determined. She is a planner. And she wants her family out of poverty. When she meets Collis P. Huntington, she believes she has found her way out. But only if she consistently plays her part. This well researched novel takes the reader through all the feels. Emotionally hard at times, Arabella (Belle) moves forward in her planned out life to rescue not only her mother and siblings but herself. When she needs to reinvent herself, she does just that. The story, set in The Gilded Age, takes the reader to glorious places and the opulent buildings and homes that were popular during that time. During this period of her life, Belle, with thoughtfulness and grace, faces rejection from a very judgmental society. She is judged. She is shunned. But, she perseveres in creating the life she wants for her family. This beautifully written, well researched novel is historical fiction at its best as the author tells the story of the real Arabella Yarrington and how she fought, planned, changed, and honed her skills to become the richest woman in the country. I loved this book. The author’s beautifully written descriptions make the Gilded Age, and all its excess, come alive for the reader. Not only a solid five star read for me but a new author discovered! Well done, Shana Abe. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2023 by KWyly
    • Enjoyable rushed ending
Was looking for something interesting but not ridiculous romance. This book is very entertaining but the end feels rushed and chopped off. Would recommend if you're looking for a light read without excessive unrealistic drama.
Reviewed in the United States on January 23, 2025 by Kindle Customer
    • Best book ! Must Read !
This was one of the most extraordinary books I have had the pleasure of reading. I loved every minute of it. It's hard for me to believe it was about people that actually lived and breathed. The story of the great railroad giant, H. P. Huntington and the woman who was most influential in his life. Shana Abe brought to life the Gilded age in all its glory, displaying the pettiness and gossipy people of The Gilded Age in New York City. A magnificent telling of Belle Huntington a woman who rose from nothing to become a woman of great wealth and who lived by her own rules taking her life fully in to her own hands. I doubt I would have ever known about this true story if it weren’t for this wonderful book. The only bad thing about this book is that it ended. I just couldn't put it down! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on February 2, 2025 by B
    • Nice read, captivating
Enjoyed this novel based on true story. Well written, engaging. Glad I read it
Reviewed in the United States on February 14, 2025 by RGH
    • Historic Fiction
Great story, well written but a tad bit over done in the descriptive bits. Intriguing relationships…Belle was a visionary in many respects. Her sending off of her heart of hearts to family to accommodate her lover’s wife’s demands was a disappointment on a few levels. A referral to disastrous future never really came to pass. She was intuitive, manipulative and a keen investor. Did enjoy the progression of her relationship with Clara. The author never really presented a sustainable reason for Belle’s Mom’s rationale to hand her over to the pimp! ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2025 by LJC
    • Readable
This book was very readable, but more speculative than much actual historic substance. For an author to be in the mind of a real person is challenging, and the author did this quite well. The late in the book, limited reveal about how awful it was for teenage Arabella was mostly left to the imagination. Leaves one wondering what grit it must have taken for her to survive it at all, and sympathize more fully with the choices she made just to survive. Having been entranced by the amazing Huntington Gardens near Pasadena, I was left wanting more real information about the Huntington’s, but honestly that wasn’t the point of this novel. If one has an interest in gilded age New York and the toll this era took on poor women’s lives, Edith Wharton’s novels The House of Mirth and The Custom of the Country are highly recommended. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on September 1, 2023 by Margar
    • Great book!
This is a very well researched and entertaining novel about a real woman who wound up marrying Huntington Hartford. It is quite a story. I read it in three days. I couldn’t put it down.
Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2025 by JRL from Brooklyn
    • Fact meets fiction, gloriously
This richly worded novel is a biography of Arabella Huntington. That is, in as much as what facts of her life survived the best efforts that her very deep bank balance were unable to expunge or that people who knew her in the second half of the19th century and the first part of the 20th century wrote or spoke about after her death. The author, Shana Abe, who also wrote the exquisite "The Second Mrs. Astor," researched the remaining facts diligently and then filled in the gaps with a wonderful imagination. The result is a powerful and heady mixture that holds the reader's interest throughout the novel. I have just f inished 'The Second Mrs Astor', and it seemed a propitious time to follow on with 'An American Beauty'. In truth, I am glad to have read two such novels in a row. ... show more
Reviewed in the United States on November 15, 2024 by Johnny Jinx

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