by David Leon Chandler ‧ RELEASE DATE: June 3, 1987
Greed, ravenous ambition, and a probable murder form the heady brew of this compelling chronicle of the family that founded the Louisville Courier-Journal; by a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. The focus of Chandler's study is the mysterious death in 1917 of Mary Kenan Flagler Bingham, who willed her husband of eight months, Robert Worth Bingham, $5 million that seeded the Bingham family's current $455-million fortune. A frisky account of the enduring rivalry between the Kenan and Bingham families--the former rich snobs, the latter scholarly snobs, both old Southern aristocracy--precedes the close-up look at Mary and Robert. After a youthful romance, for 20 years the two led separate lives, Mary marrying the co-founder of Standard Oil, Robert pursuing a corrupt and finally failed career as a lawyer/politician. Widowed within weeks of each other, the two met again: marriage at first sight, with Robert waiving marital rights to Mary's $150-million fortune. But soon Mary died and Robert revealed a new codicil in her will leaving him $5 million, in a sensational trial, the Kenans contested the will: was Mary, whose exhumed body revealed morphine addiction, conned into the codicil, then murdered? Proving nothing, the Kenans suddenly dropped their suit--and Robert went on to be Ambassador to England and to found a newspaper dynasty. This foundation set, Chandler sifts through the records (many ominously missing), positing a dark conclusion: Robert gave Mary syphilis, enabling him and a doctor ""to enter a morphine conspiracy and coerce her into signing the codicil. When her health deteriorated, they called in cooperative physicians but it was too late."" A comparison to the von Bulow case leads into an account of the recent Bingham family squabbling that has broken up the newspaper dynasty. Poetic justice? A dazzling presentation of real-life soap opera; impressive literary detective work, and grand entertainment.
Pub Date: June 3, 1987
ISBN: N/A
Page Count: -
Publisher: Macmillan
Review Posted Online: N/A
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 15, 1987
Categories: NONFICTION
© Copyright 2024 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Hey there, book lover.
We’re glad you found a book that interests you!
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Don’t fret. We’ll find you.