The Last Castle tells the story of love, loss, and American royalty in the nationās largest home. Denise Kiernan draws on extensive research to describe how owner William Randolph Hearst transformed his San Simeon estate into a sprawling palace filled with antiques and works of art. She also recounts the tragic events that befell Hearstās family after his death, including actress Marion Daviesā efforts to keep San Simeon from crumbling into ruin.
For who is this book for ?
The Last Castle is a great book for those interested in home & garden and also American royalty. Denise Kiernan does a great job of telling the story of San Simeon, from its construction to its eventual decline.
Pros :
- The author has extensive research that she draws on to tell the story.
- The book is full of interesting details about life in San Simeon.
- The book provides a detailed look at the tragic events that befell Hearst’s family after his death.
Cons :
- Too much detail about the construction of Hearst’s home
- Poorly written
- Boring
Learn more about the author
Denise Kiernan is the author of The Girls of Atomic City, a national bestseller and winner of the 2014 American Society of Journalists and Authorsā J. Anthony Lukas Work-in-Progress Award. She has also written for The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Slate, Salon, Esquire.com, and Newsweek/The Daily Beast.
Reader Reviews
“The author does a great job weaving the history of San Simeon with that of Marion Davies and William Randolph Hearst. The story is interesting and well-written.”
“Kiernan has crafted an exhaustively researched and richly detailed account of one man’s obsessive creation of a personal paradise, the subsequent decline of his family dynasty, and the Hearst castle’s present-day status as a tourist attraction. . . A spellbinding history of American excess.”
“A mesmerizing tale of American royalty and their magnificent legacy . . .”
“A fascinating and well-researched book about one of America’s most iconic families.”
