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 enlarge | Authors: Howard E., Jr. Covington, The Biltmore Company
Publisher: Wiley
Category: Book
List Price: $27.95
Buy New: $15.61
You Save: $12.34 (44%)
New (27) Used (14) from $15.37
Avg. Customer Rating:  9 reviews
Sales Rank: 103856
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 352
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6.2 x 1.3
ISBN: 0471758183
Dewey Decimal Number: 975.688
EAN: 9780471758181
ASIN: 0471758183
Publication Date: March 10, 2006
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW
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| Customer Reviews:
| Showing reviews 6-9 of 9 | | « PREV | | |
BILTMORE October 9, 2006
5 out of 6 found this review helpful
Very interesting read on how Vanderbilt heir's found a way to afford to maintain this behemouth in the foothills of the Appalations. Biltmore is without peer as far as American's great houses go, it looks like the kind of place Frances I and Catherine de Medici would have felt right at home in, it's quite simply a breathtaking tour de force, but as such a true money pit and the proverbial white elephant. You have to give Vanderbilt heir, Mr. Cecil, credit for finding people to tell him how to do what his grandfather could not, and that is to make this place, if not make money, at least break even; indeed, not an easy task. As someone who has toured Richard Morris Hunt's anachronistic Biltmore, I for one applaud his efforts; the mansion looks great and the tour is very well persented, although, very expensive, but I suppose one has to look at it as a donation of sorts, to help to assure the vital survival of this singular American mansion, and the fact it helps enrich, the already rich Vanderbilt's, I suppose it an unfortunate biproduct I can live with, frankly the Vanderbilt's, thanks to the slash and burn ruthlessness of the Commador, will probably always have wealth, well at least they gave us Anderson Cooper. Good read, highly recommended.
Fascinating Story July 4, 2006
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
Having been to see Biltmore in the summer of it centenial, I was thrilled to find a book that told the story of how such a wonderful home was saved. The story is a unique and fascinating one that tells of one man's struggle, against advice and odds, to save his grandfather's beautiful home and in the end fulfill his grandfather's dream of a self-supporting estate.
 I wish I had read it before my visit April 24, 2006
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
I purchased the book at the Biltmore gift shop after my tour. It was a excellent read on the flight home. While it is obviously written with less than objective eye to the current owners, it does present a very concise and interesting overview and timeline.
An Amazing Private Restoration March 30, 2006
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
The real surprise about Biltmore is not that it was built, the rich-rich back in those days had lots money to spend on things like this. Instead it is that Biltmore has been brought back from being a somewhat shabby Grand Dame back into splender. Over the decades it was restored and brought up to date, but even more important it, and its surrounding were turned into a profitable enterprise that shows that all these old houses do not have to be turned over to the government to survive.
The estate incorporates some 12,000 acres near Asheville NC. In the late 1950's the smart money advisors recommended that it be sold off for a suburban housing development. Instead George Vanderbilt's grandson William Cecil began the project that lasted for forty years to bring the estate back.
It now produces wine and visitors to the area. He has become as or perhaps even more popular destination than Monticello, Mount Vernon or Colonial Williamsburg.
This is the story of how Mr. Cecil made the whole thing happen.
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