Synopses & Reviews
The fascinating story of one of the grand dames of Georgetown society and a true Washington insider
Henry Kissinger once remarked that more agreements were concluded in the living room of Susan Mary Alsop than in the White House. A descendent of Founding Father John Jay, Susan Mary was an American aristocrat whose first marriage gave her full access to post-war diplomatic social life in Paris. There, her circle of friends included Winston Churchill, Isaiah Berlin, Evelyn Waugh, and Christian Dior, among other luminaries, and she had a passionate love affair with British ambassador Duff Cooper. During the golden years of John F. Kennedyand#8217;s presidencyand#151;after she had married the powerful journalist Joe Alsopand#151;her Washington home was a gathering place for everyone of importance, including Katharine Graham, Robert McNamara, and Henry Kissinger. Dubbed and#147;the second lady of Camelot,and#8221; she hosted dinner parties that were the epitome of political power and social arrival, bringing together the movers and shakers not just of the United States, but of the world. Featuring an introduction by Susan Mary Alsopand#8217;s goddaughter Frances FitzGerald, American Lady is a fascinating chronicle of a woman who witnessed, as Nancy Mitford once said, and#147;history on the boil.and#8221;
Review
Praise for
American Lady by Caroline de Margerie
and#8220;Marvelousand#8230;Reveals the influence and insight of the American hostess, who lived so elegantly in the public eye, and so passionately when no one was watching.and#8221;and#8212;The New York Times and#160; and#8220;Caroline de Margerie avoids hagiography, instead depicting a fabulously interesting, complicated and influential woman.and#8221;and#8212;The Chicago Tribune and#160; and#8220;The first-ever biography of the Georgetown doyenne, charts her life from Parisand#8212;where she charmed Winston Churchill and was a favorite of Christian Diorand#8212;to Washington D.C., where she threw some of the best parties of the Camelot era.and#8221;and#8212;The Wall Street Journal and#160; and#8220;[De Margerie] goes behind the faand#231;ade to reveal a passionate personality torn between her sense of duty and her personal desiresand#8230;De Margie had access to some 500 previously unseen letters.and#8221;and#8212;Womenand#8217;s Wear Daily
and#8220;Compact, entertainingand#8230;de Margerie colorfully unpacks the details of Alsopand#8217;s life.and#8221;and#8212;The Washingtonian
and#8220;Feminine insights into the life of this fascinating woman.and#8221;and#8212;Printers Row Journal
and#8220;The story of a determined, pedigreed womanand#8230;A saloniste extraordinaire.and#8221;and#8212;The Washington Times
and#160;
Review
andldquo;Written with a verve and clarity that her subject would both admire and regret, An American Lady captures theandnbsp; charms, contradictions andandnbsp;convictions that putandnbsp;Susan Mary Alsopandnbsp;at the crossroads of society, politics, and glamorous love affairsandnbsp;in Paris, Washington, and her other ports of call. Many of the great men---and women---of her time gravitated to Susan Mary's movable salon to take in each other, and their ever resourceful hostess. It's all here.andrdquo;andmdash;Jim Hoagland, Contributing Editor, The Washington Post
Review
andldquo;This is not just an exquisitely perceptive portrait of a remarkable woman, it is a beautifully painted conversation piece including many of the great figures from aandnbsp;privileged age of elegance andandnbsp;intelligence.andrdquo;andmdash;Antony Beevor, bestselling author of
The Second World WarReview
andquot;Susan Mary Alsop was a cool, beautiful admixture of public discretion and private daring. On two continents and over four decades she invited the world's most powerful people to her homes, facilitating, networking, connecting. Caroline de Margerie's American Lady, is as sharp and stylish as its fascinating subject.andrdquo;andmdash;Stacy A. Cordery, author of Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker
Review
andquot;The history of post war Europe and America told through the prism of power and privilege.andnbsp;andnbsp; A most enjoyable book about a most elegant lady.andquot;andmdash;Jane Stanton Hitchcock, author of Mortal Friends
Review
andldquo;Thin, fashionable, well informed, yet a little wicked, Susan Mary had what it took to be talked about, and the Alsopsandrsquo; gatherings were the talk of Georgetownandrsquo;s andldquo;glory years.andrdquo; Paris-based author de Margerie paints in bold, bright outlines the compelling story of this Jamesian heroine. Entertaining story of a dynamic literary woman who sparked a fascinating life from the changing currents of the age.andrdquo;andmdash;Kirkus Reviews
Review
andldquo;Like Jackie Kennedy, Susan Mary Alsop was the kind of American aristocrat who survived with her wits and good manners. From her days as a diplomatic wife in Paris after WWII through her unconventional marriage to legendary political columnist Joe Alsop in 1960s Washington, Susan Mary hostessed her way to a place in history and created a political salon that boasted Kennedys, Kissingers and an impressive social roster in Georgetown. Author Caroline de Margerie deftly chronicles the life of a woman who gave little away emotionally but whose range of experience speaks for itself. Susan Mary Alsop was the model of a well-bred survivor who capitalized on lifeandrsquo;s social opportunities.andrdquo;andmdash;Cherie Burns, author of Searching for Beauty: The Life of Millicent Rogers
Review
andldquo;Once upon a time the coolest people in the world were Americans. From the era of F. Scott Fitzgerald through that of Mad Men, they set the scene for the age of Camelot and not a few of its most consequential confrontations. No one better exemplified this rarefied and influential species than Susan Mary Alsop, whose eventful, thoughtful, complex and passionate life Caroline de Margerie brilliantly chronicles in this exquisitely researched, impossible to put down biography.andrdquo;andmdash;Thomas Caplan, author of The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen
Review
and#8220;An engrossing, perceptive, and nuanced portrait of a celebrated socialite who once knew everyone worth knowing.and#8221;and#8212;Publishers Weekly
Review
“Marvelous…Reveals the influence and insight of the American hostess, who lived so elegantly in the public eye, and so passionately when no one was watching.”—
The New York Times “Caroline de Margerie avoids hagiography, instead depicting a fabulously interesting, complicated and influential woman.”—Chicago Tribune
“The first-ever biography of the Georgetown doyenne, charts her life from Paris—where she charmed Winston Churchill and was a favorite of Christian Dior—to Washington D.C., where she threw some of the best parties of the Camelot era.”—The Wall Street Journal
“[De Margerie] goes behind the façade to reveal a passionate personality torn between her sense of duty and her personal desires…De Margerie had access to some 500 previously unseen letters.”—Womens Wear Daily
“An engrossing, perceptive, and nuanced portrait of a celebrated socialist who once knew everyone worth knowing.”—Publishers Weekly
“Paris-based author de Margerie paints in bold, bright outlines the compelling story of this Jamesian heroine. Entertaining story of a dynamic literary woman who sparked a fascinating life from the changing currents of the age.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Compact, entertaining…de Margerie colorfully unpacks the details of Alsops life.”—The Washingtonian
“This is not just an exquisitely perceptive portrait of a remarkable woman, it is a beautifully painted conversation piece including many of the great figures from a privileged age of elegance and intelligence.”—Antony Beevor, bestselling author of The Second World War
“Written with a verve and clarity that her subject would both admire and regret, An American Lady captures the charms, contradictions and convictions that put Susan Mary Alsop at the crossroads of society, politics, and glamorous love affairs in Paris, Washington, and her other ports of call. Many of the great men---and women---of her time gravitated to Susan Mary's movable salon to take in each other, and their ever resourceful hostess. It's all here.”—Jim Hoagland, Contributing Editor, The Washington Post
Susan Mary Alsop was a cool, beautiful admixture of public discretion and private daring. On two continents and over four decades she invited the world's most powerful people to her homes, facilitating, networking, connecting. Caroline de Margerie's American Lady, is as sharp and stylish as its fascinating subject.”—Stacy A. Cordery, author of Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker
"The history of post war Europe and America told through the prism of power and privilege. A most enjoyable book about a most elegant lady."—Jane Stanton Hitchcock, author of Mortal Friends
“Once upon a time the coolest people in the world were Americans. From the era of F. Scott Fitzgerald through that of Mad Men, they set the scene for the age of Camelot and not a few of its most consequential confrontations. No one better exemplified this rarefied and influential species than Susan Mary Alsop, whose eventful, thoughtful, complex and passionate life Caroline de Margerie brilliantly chronicles in this exquisitely researched, impossible to put down biography.”—Thomas Caplan, author of The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen
“Like Jackie Kennedy, Susan Mary Alsop was the kind of American aristocrat who survived with her wits and good manners. From her days as a diplomatic wife in Paris after WWII through her unconventional marriage to legendary political columnist Joe Alsop in 1960s Washington, Susan Mary hostessed her way to a place in history and created a political salon that boasted Kennedys, Kissingers and an impressive social roster in Georgetown. Author Caroline de Margerie deftly chronicles the life of a woman who gave little away emotionally but whose range of experience—including discreet romantic dramas with consecutive British ambassadors—speaks for itself. Susan Mary Alsop was the model of a well-bred survivor who capitalized on lifes social opportunities.”—Cherie Burns, author of Searching for Beauty: The Life of Millicent Rogers
Review
and#8220;Marvelousand#8230;Reveals the influence and insight of the American hostess, who lived so elegantly in the public eye, and so passionately when no one was watching.and#8221;and#8212;
The New York Times and#160; and#160; and#8220;Caroline de Margerie avoids hagiography, instead depicting a fabulously interesting, complicated and influential woman.and#8221;and#8212;Chicago Tribune
and#160; and#160; and#8220;The first-ever biography of the Georgetown doyenne, charts her life from Parisand#8212;where she charmed Winston Churchill and was a favorite of Christian Diorand#8212;to Washington D.C., where she threw some of the best parties of the Camelot era.and#8221;and#8212;The Wall Street Journal
and#160; and#160; and#8220;[De Margerie] goes behind the faand#231;ade to reveal a passionate personality torn between her sense of duty and her personal desiresand#8230;De Margerie had access to some 500 previously unseen letters.and#8221;and#8212;Womenand#8217;s Wear Daily
and#160; and#160; and#8220;An engrossing, perceptive, and nuanced portrait of a celebrated socialist who once knew everyone worth knowing.and#8221;and#8212;Publishers Weekly
and#160; and#160; and#8220;Paris-based author de Margerie paints in bold, bright outlines the compelling story of this Jamesian heroine. Entertaining story of a dynamic literary woman who sparked a fascinating life from the changing currents of the age.and#8221;and#8212;Kirkus Reviews
and#160; and#8220;Compact, entertainingand#8230;de Margerie colorfully unpacks the details of Alsopand#8217;s life.and#8221;and#8212;The Washingtonian
and#160; and#160; and#8220;This is not just an exquisitely perceptive portrait of a remarkable woman, it is a beautifully painted conversation piece including many of the great figures from aand#160;privileged age of elegance andand#160;intelligence.and#8221;and#8212;Antony Beevor, bestselling author of The Second World War
and#160; and#160; and#8220;Written with a verve and clarity that her subject would both admire and regret, An American Lady captures theand#160; charms, contradictions andand#160;convictions that putand#160;Susan Mary Alsopand#160;at the crossroads of society, politics, and glamorous love affairsand#160;in Paris, Washington, and her other ports of call. Many of the great men---and women---of her time gravitated to Susan Mary's movable salon to take in each other, and their ever resourceful hostess. It's all here.and#8221;and#8212;Jim Hoagland, Contributing Editor, The Washington Post
and#160; and#160; Susan Mary Alsop was a cool, beautiful admixture of public discretion and private daring. On two continents and over four decades she invited the world's most powerful people to her homes, facilitating, networking, connecting. Caroline de Margerie's American Lady, is as sharp and stylish as its fascinating subject.and#8221;and#8212;Stacy A. Cordery, author of Alice: Alice Roosevelt Longworth, from White House Princess to Washington Power Broker
and#160; and#160; "The history of post war Europe and America told through the prism of power and privilege.and#160;and#160; A most enjoyable book about a most elegant lady."and#8212;Jane Stanton Hitchcock, author of Mortal Friends
and#160; and#160; and#8220;Once upon a time the coolest people in the world were Americans. From the era of F. Scott Fitzgerald through that of Mad Men, they set the scene for the age of Camelot and not a few of its most consequential confrontations. No one better exemplified this rarefied and influential species than Susan Mary Alsop, whose eventful, thoughtful, complex and passionate life Caroline de Margerie brilliantly chronicles in this exquisitely researched, impossible to put down biography.and#8221;and#8212;Thomas Caplan, author of The Spy Who Jumped Off the Screen
and#160; and#160; and#8220;Like Jackie Kennedy, Susan Mary Alsop was the kind of American aristocrat who survived with her wits and good manners. From her days as a diplomatic wife in Paris after WWII through her unconventional marriage to legendary political columnist Joe Alsop in 1960s Washington, Susan Mary hostessed her way to a place in history and created a political salon that boasted Kennedys, Kissingers and an impressive social roster in Georgetown. Author Caroline de Margerie deftly chronicles the life of a woman who gave little away emotionally but whose range of experienceand#8212;including discreet romantic dramas with consecutive British ambassadorsand#8212;speaks for itself. Susan Mary Alsop was the model of a well-bred survivor who capitalized on lifeand#8217;s social opportunities.and#8221;and#8212;Cherie Burns, author of Searching for Beauty: The Life of Millicent Rogers and#160;
Synopsis
The fascinating story of one of the grand dames of Georgetown society and a true Washington insiderAn American aristocratandmdash;a descendant of founding father John Jayandmdash;Susan Mary Alsop (1918andndash;2004)with husband, Joe Alsop, brought together the movers and shakers of not just the United States, but the world. Henry Kissinger remarked that more agreements were concluded in her living room than in the White House.
Born in Rome, brought up in Argentina and the United States, Susan Mary arrived in Paris in 1945 to join her first husband, Bill Patten. There she witnessed andldquo;history on the boilandrdquo; at dinners with Winston Churchill, Duff Cooper (the British ambassador and the love of her life), FDR, Greta Garbo, and many others. A year after Billandrsquo;s death in 1960, she married the renowned journalist and legendary power broker Joe Alsop. Dubbed andldquo;the second lady of Camelot,andrdquo; Susan Mary hosted dinner parties that were the epitome of political power and social arrival. She reigned over Georgetown society for four decades; her house was the gathering place for everyone of importance, including John F. Kennedy, Katharine Graham, and Robert McNamara.
Synopsis
The fascinating story of one of the grand dames of Georgetown society and a true Washington insider
Henry Kissinger once remarked that more agreements were concluded in the living room of Susan Mary Alsop than in the White House. A descendent of Founding Father John Jay, Susan Mary was an American aristocrat whose first marriage gave her full access to post-war diplomatic social life in Paris. There, her circle of friends included Winston Churchill, Isaiah Berlin, Evelyn Waugh, and Christian Dior, among other luminaries, and she had a passionate love affair with British ambassador Duff Cooper. During the golden years of John F. Kennedyand#8217;s presidencyand#151;after she had married the powerful journalist Joe Alsopand#151;her Washington home was a gathering place for everyone of importance, including Katharine Graham, Robert McNamara, and Henry Kissinger. Dubbed and#147;the second lady of Camelot,and#8221; she hosted dinner parties that were the epitome of political power and social arrival, bringing together the movers and shakers not just of the United States, but of the world. Featuring an introduction by Susan Mary Alsopand#8217;s goddaughter Frances FitzGerald, American Lady is a fascinating chronicle of a woman who witnessed, as Nancy Mitford once said, and#147;history on the boil.and#8221;
About the Author
Caroline de Margerie, a former diplomat, is a member of the Conseil dand#8217;Etat, the supreme administrative court in France. She lives in Paris.
Christopher Murrayand#160;is an American translator and musicologist based in Paris.
Frances FitzGeraldand#160;is the author of several nonfiction works, including the Pulitzer Prizeand#150; and National Book Awardand#150;winningand#160;Fire in the Lake. She lives in New York City.