The Second Mrs. Astor: A Tragic Tale of Love and Loss on the Titanic

N. Jean Berry: Based on a true story of the life and love of Madeline and JJ Astor and subsequently the sinking of the Tiitanic, after which he died but she lived in to give birth to their baby. If Well written by the author. Good character development. I felt that I came to know Madeline personally . A though it was quite sad toward the end, it was a very good story.

United States on Oct 16, 2023

Jules: I loved this book, from the first sentence to the last. I even found myself in tears a few times. The descriptions were so clear that I could feel myself in the moments, another time, another place, another world. If you enjoy historical fiction stories you'll love this one, give it a shot.

United States on Oct 16, 2023

Sally J Terwilliger: This is such a well written and well researched book that it will fly by and you’ll wish you could have taken longer because it’s such a pleasure to be in the company of a great love. It’s a beautiful picture of the times also - what was worn and what was considered to be good manners. When first hearing about the book, I thought why should I read it, I know how it ends but this is a case of God being in the details. It is the depth and breath of the details that are so enthralling and that had me so deeply moved that I didn’t want it to end and when it did it was heart breaking. Definitely recommend this book and get set for a great read.

United States on Oct 15, 2023

Amazon Customer: Although the story sounded like one I could enjoy, it did not hit the mark. It is about a 17 year old girl who marries a man almost 30 years her senior. You have to question why a man close to 50 years of age would marry a teenager, other than the obvious physical angle. A man of his stature in the early 1900's required a wife who could represent him socially as well as support him emotionally, not exactly something a teenage girl would be experienced or qualified to do.

John Jacob Astor was one of the wealthiest men in the world at the time of his death on the Titanic. His 5-month pregnant child-bride survived. Outside of being a passenger on the ill-fated journey and that she married into fabulous wealth and luxury, her life was not very interesting. Madeleine and Colonel Astor were together for only a short time, and thus this fictionalized story of her life had little to offer. The author did not show that Madeleine accomplished much of anything, certainly nothing or not enough to base an entire book on.

If you are looking for a book about the Titanic, there are enough choices out there to satisfy any interest in the tragedy and the people involved, both real and...

United States on Oct 10, 2023

Barbmom: I bought this book because of a PBS series that made mention of an earlier Mrs. Astor. I knew the sinking of the Titanic was part of the story. I put off reading it even though I love historical fiction - I wasn't sure I could read about the sinking.....Gloriously I began and found myself engrossed in the life of this woman who happen to marry an Astor. It is a wonderful story told to her son so he would know his father. It is a must read! Even the Titanic parts are interesting though I did shed a few tears. Most of the story is other than Titantic. I can't recommend it enough.

United States on Sep 30, 2023

Mrs A: 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.

United Kingdom on Sep 02, 2023

PJ: 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

United Kingdom on Jun 27, 2023

Angela Hughes: I really enjoyed this book, it was historically interesting & I thought the author really captured the characters personalities (even though they are imagined). I've pre-ordered her next book.

Canada on Jun 06, 2023

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

United Kingdom on May 23, 2023

Helena Halme Author: 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...

United Kingdom on Feb 01, 2022