{"product_id":"book-gq1z","title":"An American Beauty","description":"\u003cb\u003eThe \u003ci\u003eNew York Times\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eThe Second Mrs. Astor\u003c\/i\u003e returns with a spellbinding new book perfect for fans of HBO's \u003ci\u003eThe Gilded Age\u003c\/i\u003e and readers of Marie Benedict, Karen Harper, and Fiona Davis. 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.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 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.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e 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 . . .\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ci\u003eAn American Beauty\u003c\/i\u003e brings to vivid life the glitter and drama of a captivating chapter in history—and a remarkable woman who lived by her own rules.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cb\u003e\"This story of one woman's ascent offers a fascinating look at the choices she made to become a Gilded Age titan.\" —\u003ci\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e ","brand":"Tantor","offers":[{"title":"Audiobook","offer_id":49355152064816,"sku":"BDgq1z","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audio CD","offer_id":49355152097584,"sku":"ZEgq1z","price":49.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Audio MP3-CD","offer_id":49355152130352,"sku":"ZMgq1z","price":45.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0879\/2784\/9264\/files\/gq1z-Square-cover.jpg?v=1780194037","url":"https:\/\/downpour.com\/products\/book-gq1z","provider":"Downpour","version":"1.0","type":"link"}