Writing a book can feel a lot like constructing a house: Ideas are sketched, a structure emerges, finishing touches are added, and some dearly held ideas eventually go the way of George Vanderbilt’s arboretum—well intentioned, but unrealized. Much like Biltmore House, this book would not exist without the expertise and support of many individuals and institutions. Without them, the floor would have fallen out from beneath me.
My agent of many years, Yfat Reiss Gendell, is part sounding board, part truth-telling voice of reason, and full-time advocate. She is a dedicated student of a constantly changing and often volatile industry, making her insights of invaluable importance to me. She and her team at Foundry Literary + Media—especially Jessica Felleman—are a unique and brilliant bunch, and I feel very fortunate to be on their roster.
I am grateful to editor Michelle Howry for believing in the potential of this story, and to Trish Todd for picking up where Michelle left off, as sometimes happens in this business. Trish dove in with enthusiasm, blue pencil at the ready, and treated this project as if it had always been on her docket. She was ably assisted by Kaitlin Olson. Tara Parsons, David Falk, and Susan Moldow guide an incredible team at Touchstone/Simon & Schuster—many of whom I was fortunate to work with on The Girls of Atomic City—and never wavered in their support of my book. The production team headed by Linda Sawicki, including copy editor Josh Karpf and proofreader W. Anne Jones, asked all the right questions and, more important, cleaned up my mistakes when I could not see them anymore. The publicity and marketing crew—including Brian Belfiglio, Meredith Villarello, and publicist Jessica Roth—helped ensure my work found the right audience. Erich Hobbing gave my words a happy home on the page, and cover designer Cherlynne Li wrapped my work up in the prettiest package I could ever want.
This book would not have been possible without the countless manuscripts, letters, and other archives that provided a peek into the past. While much is digitized today, the vast majority of paper archives is not. Most notably, I would like to acknowledge the work and assistance of the librarians and archivists at Brown University’s John Hay Library, the New York Public Library’s Manuscript and Archives Division, Vanderbilt University’s Jean and Alexander Heard Library, Yale’s Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, the archives of the National Gallery of Art, the Manuscript Division of the Library of Congress, the Manuscripts Collections at Indiana University’s Lilly Library, the Archives of Grolier Club, and the Archives and Manuscripts Division at the Wellcome Library in the UK. Closer to home, I must thank the librarians of the wonderful North Carolina Room at Pack Memorial Library.
I made many trips around the country to hunt down papers and photographs, but on occasion needed an extra pair of boots on the ground when I could not be everywhere at once. I thank the intrepid Deirdre Cossman in New York, my west coast arm, Drake Witham, and DC researcher Jessica Kaplan.
I wish to thank George Vanderbilt for his dedication to his dream and, even more so, Edith Vanderbilt for her tenacity in seeing that the remarkable historical treasure that is Biltmore House continues to exist. Today, her descendants and countless employees devote time and energy to ensure that the estate remains an inviting, year-round oasis for visitors. I know it is for me.
My North Carolina support system is vast, and there are too many friends and family to thank for getting me out of the house when I needed it, for a shot of perspective or a glass of wine. However, I must call out Lauren Harr and Caroline Green, my always-available, go-to-gals publicity team at Gold Leaf Literary, and Brenda Lilly, Asheville native and storyteller extraordinaire. Abbott Kahler’s talent as a writer and generous spirit as a friend helped keep me moderately sane. I am joyfully indebted to my sister, Christine Fisher, and her husband, Todd, for their understanding, patience, and kindness, as this book intersected with our lives in unexpected and trying ways.
And finally, I can never thank my husband, Joseph D’Agnese, enough, for serving as in-house editor, expert anxiety-reliever, and all around exceptional human being.