The Second Mrs. Astor: A Heartbreaking Historical Novel of the Titanic

A totally immersive read into the lives and love of the Astors, the era, the styles and the infamous ship, Titanic.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book, it’s beautifully written and well researched. Until I downloaded the book I knew very little about the Astor family but reading this it has made me want to know more about them, particularly Madeleine (nee Force) and John Jacob Astor.The story begins with Madeline, a young widow telling her newly born son about his father who he will never know. It then continues to alternate between Madeleine’s teenage years when she first saw John and telling the story to her son also John Jacob. So it continues, they marry and enjoy an idyllic honeymoon but this ends in tragedy. Their relationship was frowned upon by certain people because of their age difference, Madeleine was 18 when they married, John in his 50’s and they were the subject of the gossip columns but they were obviously very much in love and probably would have gone on to have more children.

Those of you who are already looking forward to watching Julian Fellows‘ The Gilded Age on TV, should read The Second Mrs. Astor by Shana Abe. This novel, set in New York in the early 1900s follows a young socialite, Madeleine Force, as she meets and falls in love with a much older man, Colonel Jack Astor. (His mother, Mrs Lina Astor, is featured in the TV series). Causing a scandal, the two marry and go on an extended honeymoon to Egypt.If you know your history well, it won’t be a spoiler to tell you that this is also a story of the sinking of the Titanic – in fact, the book’s subtitle mentions the fated cruise liner. The novel is, however, so much more than just another book about the Titanic. This story is about love, tolerance (or the lack of), equality and humanity.Madaleine is acutely aware of her inadequate social standing compared to the Astors’ Knickerbocker ancestry. What’s more, Jack Astor is more than 25 years her senior and the richest man in the country. After their marriage, Madelaine is shunned by society and haunted by the press. To escape the scandal – and the freezing New York winter – the pair decide to take a trip to warmer climes. Having met the Chairman of the White Star Line, Bruce Ismay, during their journey, Jack is keen to travel home on the maiden voyage of the new Olympic-class ocean liner. Needless to say, it’s a fated decision.The Second Mrs. Astor is a very engaging read and one that kept my mind off our own troubles at sea.

Loved this book and it’s telling if the Madeleine Astor story from before they tragically boarded the Titanic.This author writes so beautifully that the story flows and just couldn’t put this book down. Very enjoyable and well-written story of love and tragedy.As a rule, I steer clear of American historical fiction and prefer English history. I made this an exception due to its ties to the Titanic tragedy, and I’m so glad I did.I enjoyed this book SO much that I’m now reading An American Beauty by the same author #shanaabe

Beautifully written, and highly evocative of the period, but basically dull until the last, which we always knew was coming.However my main question, is why she retells the surface love story without challenging the motives of (either) protagonist: falling madly in love at almost first sight. Most 17 year olds would just think of Jack as an old man. Does his appeal begin to grow as Maddy realises the vastness of his wealth? I know she's writing to her baby son about his dead father in part, but couldn't she be made a tiny bit reflective in the main narrative?It's an old fashioned approach. This reader wanted a more multi faceted approach.

Loved this story involving The Titanic. Well written and heart wrenching - a must read.

I love stories based around The Titanic so I was really looking forward to reading this. However I was very disappointed - it turned out to be written on the basis of a letter from a mother to her son who was born after their father (albeit the most wealthy person in the US) perished on the aforementioned Titanic. I first of all found myself skipping through paragraphs, hoping it would have more "punch" but then I gave up completely as it seemed more of the same. Disappointing.

A well-researched, enjoyable biography about the young Madeleine Force and her courtship and marriage to John Jacob Astor IV, a man 30 years her senior. The book follows their year-long honeymoon and ill-fated journey back to New York on RMS Titanic's maiden voyage.

I didn't read any reviews of this, but I thought the story looked interesting. It was well written, a great based-in-fact story- and since I've seen 3 separate Titanic movies, (1953 Titanic, 1958 A Night to Remember, 1997 Titanic) the entire book felt very familiar. It's great for a few hours on a plane. Enjoy!

Abe helps you get past the somewhat cringy age gap of the main characters by writing Madeleine as a mature and thoughtful teenager. I had to set her age aside, and remember this was a different age, when 18 was older and more mature in some ways. A lovely story. I hope some of it was close to the truth and Madeleine's heart was filled with enough love to last.

I have no words that will show how wonderful this book is. Very emotional, i fell in love with the characters, i cried.

I Like this book because it was a very deep story and heart breaking and therefore lovely to read. I reccomend it as it gives you many romantic moments and a feeling of deep relationships with different characters.

Fascinating story of the lives of Mrs and Mrs Astor. She was 18 when they married. He was in his 40s and had been married then divorced. Sadly he was drowned when the Titanic sank but his wife was one of the many women and children who were survived in boats lowered to the sea. Four months later she gave birth to a son. Her husband had an older son whom I think inherited most of his father's estate. Mrs Astor married twice after her first husband's death but sadly died in her forties.