The Fall of the House of Walworth: A Tale of Madness and Murder in Gilded Age America (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780312577148)

The Walworth family was the very symbol of virtue and distinction for decades, rising to prominence as part of the splendor of New York's aristocracy. When Frank Walworth travels to New York to settle a family difficulty by shooting his father at point blank range, his family must reveal their inner demons in a spectacular trial to save him from execution. The resulting testimony exposes a legacy of mania and abuse, and the stately reputation of the family crumbles in a Gothic drama which the New York Tribune called sensational to the last degree.

The Fall of the House of Walworth gives us both the intimate history of a family torn apart by violent obsessions, and a rich portrait of the American social worlds in which they moved. In the tradition of Edith Wharton, this is a riveting true story which rival[s] the most extravagant Gothic novels of the day (The Chicago Tribune).

Author: Geoffrey O'Brien
ISBN-10: 0312577141
ISBN-13: 9780312577148
Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
Language: English
Published: 08/16/2011
Pages: 368
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.95lbs
Size: 8.50h x 5.60w x 1.00d

Review Citation(s):
New York Times Book Review 09/25/2011 pg. 32