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The Two Mrs. Grenvilles
When Navy ensign Billy Grenville, heir to a vast New York fortune, sees showgirl Ann Arden on the dance floor, it is love at first sight. And much to the horror of Alice Grenville--the indomitable family matriarch--he marries her. Ann wants desperately to be accepted by high society and become the well-bred woman of her fantasies. But a gunshot one rainy night propels Ann ...more
Paperback, 374 pages
Published
September 15th 2009
by Random House Publishing Group
(first published 1985)
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Harmonybites
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Recommends it for:
Those Fascinated by the World of the Rich and Famous
Recommended to Harmonybites by:
The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Ultimate Reading List
This is one of those supposedly first person accounts where the narrator (Basil Plant) disappears into the background, with it reading more like omniscient. A gossipy, voyeuristic omniscience spinning a compellingly readable yarn based on the true murder case involving Ann and Billy Woodward. A blurb from Publisher's Weekly points to the appeal of the novel: "knowing glimpses of high living in high places." The author Dominick Dunne, a writer for Vanity Fair, had walked in such places,...more
The first Mrs. Grenville is a triplet from the kind of family that the painter John Singer Sargent captured in portrait. The newly-minted Mrs. Grenville is a former showgirl from a small town in Kansas, lying about her age, sexual and marital history. Dominick Dunne's novel The Two Mrs. Grenvilles chronicles a fictional tug-of-war between these characters, based on a factual tug-of-war between the characters on which they are based.
I love Dominick Dunne, whom I affectionately refer to...more
I love Dominick Dunne, whom I affectionately refer to...more
quasi-fictional book, this is a delicious story about the higher echelons of New York society in the 1940's and 50's. It was inspired by the real life of Ann and William Woodward, and William's murder in 1955 by his wife.The fun of this book is the insider view of those high society circles. Dunne, a writer for Vanity Fair, dishes about these folks with a giggle and takes great pleasure at exposing them and their snobbish ways. The main focus is Ann Grenville (Woodward), social climber extraord...more
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The two ladies mentioned in the title are mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Family matriarch Alice Grenville is very proper and very wealthy, and Ann Arden Grenville marries Alice's son William "Junior" Grenville much to his mother's dismay. Ann is a small town girl from Kansas who has come to New York to be a nightclub showgirl. Her marriage to Billy (Ann can't stand wither William or Junior as names) has its ups and downs, until one night Ann kills Billy and claims she thought he ...more
Are there really people like this? I'm afraid there are, but I don't know any. Reading Dominick Dunne is like watching great bad TV. It's better, because the writer creates an intimacy that TV cannot provide. This is the story of a beautiful poor girl, Ann, who is determined to climb up to the highest social level in NYC and beyond. She meets an innocent rich boy and they marry despite his family's horror. It works for a while. But Ann's goal is to become as refined, dignified, and comman...more
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Our book club decided to read The Two Mrs. Grenvilles upon learning of Dominick Dunne's recent passing. I just finished it, and found it a total, trash, page turner. I'm sure it is based on actual events, as Dunne was a wanna be in the upper class NYC scene, and he has a well-known fascination for crime, and the wealthy's ability to "get away with it." The characters in this story are, sadly, spoiled, mostly amoral, and sadly negligent parents, but I found it hard to put down. Imme...more
A fascinating glimpse into the world of the uppermost memebers of the wealthiest New York society. A great character driven book matching the power/cleverness of the old society in the person of the matriarch Alice Grenville against the power/cleverness of the dance hall intruder Ann Grenville who marries Alice's son. By the way, one cannot see Seattle from a cruise ship in the Pacific heading toward Fairbanks!
This was so engrossing and so well-written it was a pleasure to read.
I did't know about the true case it was based on until after reading the book.
It is actually pretty close to the tragic true events.
As they say, the rich are different and this book examines that rather peculiar truth in quite a bit of depth.
Five stars, plus!
I did't know about the true case it was based on until after reading the book.
It is actually pretty close to the tragic true events.
As they say, the rich are different and this book examines that rather peculiar truth in quite a bit of depth.
Five stars, plus!
The first of many Dominick Dunne books I've read---like most of his books, this one was inspired by real people and a Truman Capote like figure reveals the sordid details of notorious gun "accident" where a wealthy man was accidentally shot to death by his social-climbing wife. Dunne's books are most readable and often quite fun.
A nice juicy read--a real page turner. I enjoyed the 1940s/50s period details, along with the look into the New York high society lifestyle of the time. Now that I think of it, the story has similarities to Edith Wharton's "The Custom of the Country," although set about forty years later and including MURDER.
I was really sad to learn that Dominick Dunne had died because I always enjoyed his articles and his views on the court system. So I thought I should read his best seller. I got sucked into all the lives and the fact that it was based on a true story made it even better. It's not a great work of art but a fun read.
A quasi-fictional book, this is a quick-ready story about the higher echelons of New York society in the 1940's and 50's. It was inspired by the real life of Ann and William Woodward, and William's murder in 1955 by his wife. She was acquitted of any wrongdoing.
Reminded me a bit of "American Eve" another "crime of the century" however this woman shot her husband for spite rather than abuse as Florence Evelyn Nesbit did.
That aside this is based on true events, told from a reporters point of view. I wish Dunne had a better name for him, Basil Plant, really, although there maybe something to read into that name. This is a fun, gossipy, mindless novel about a woman (a gasp show girl from rural Kansas) trying desperately to...more
That aside this is based on true events, told from a reporters point of view. I wish Dunne had a better name for him, Basil Plant, really, although there maybe something to read into that name. This is a fun, gossipy, mindless novel about a woman (a gasp show girl from rural Kansas) trying desperately to...more
After reading this book and "People Like Us" I FINALLY understand why I love Dominick Dunne so much--reading his books is like watching amazingly awful reality TV.
There I said it. Guilty as charged. Also, who can resist dialogue like this:
"It's Junior sowing his wild oats. He'd never marry her."
"How can you be so sure?"
"She pronounces the 't' in 'often.' "
There I said it. Guilty as charged. Also, who can resist dialogue like this:
"It's Junior sowing his wild oats. He'd never marry her."
"How can you be so sure?"
"She pronounces the 't' in 'often.' "
This book was interesting as it was based on a true story. Although the writing was a bit drawn out and sometimes too wordy. I find it interesting that Dominick Dunne refer to himself in the third person at times. A different read.
I read this book years ago and completely forgot about it until I read of Dominick Dunne's passing today. Good read based on a true story. I remember reading it when I was sick with the flu!
Thoroughly enjoyable tale of New York's snobby rich & upper classes in the 1940's. Dunne is fantastic at dialogue, very little scene-setting -characters are revealed by their talk.
I read this book probably 15 years ago! I really liked it while hating many of the characters! I do enjoy Dominick Dunne's writing....great summer read.
I really enjoyed this book ...great charecter development, interesting plot...a lite read...great summer book...d. dunne at his best....
Dominck Dunne is one of my favorites for deliciously bad weathly people. He can really skewer them.
This was a fun read but I don't think my life was enriched in any way by reading this novel.
Another good book by Dunne. His writing is always compelling and the story is fascinating.
Gillian
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Recommends it for:
people with jewels
Recommended to Gillian by:
Neva
Ah, Dominick Dunne, you never disappoint! At the end of this book, I decided that I hated both Mrs. Grenvilles. Actually, I hated almost everyone in this book, with the exception of Billy's childhood friend, but I can't remember what that guy's stupid nickname was. Anyway, DD is great because he writes books about people who have basically no redeeming qualitites, and yet, you are hooked. This makes me want to re-read A Season In Purgatory, which I think is his best one!
I just wanted to say I read a Dominick Dunne book. Interesting story but too much sex.
An easy summer read. How does this guy get away with turning truth into fiction?
Total guilty pleasure reading...I honestly couldn't put it down.
OMG. Who cares about spoiled rich people and their stupid lives?
That is several hours of my life I will never get back.
It's been a long time ago when I last read this book, but nevertheless an exciting book to read. Damn, I don't even recall what the story was?? *winks*
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Dominick Dunne was an American writer and investigative journalist whose subjects frequently hinged on the ways high society interacts with the judiciary system. He was a producer in Hollywood and is also known from his frequent appearances on television.
After his studies at Williams College and service in World War II, Dunne moved to New York, then to Hollywood, where he directed Play...more
More about Dominick Dunne...
After his studies at Williams College and service in World War II, Dunne moved to New York, then to Hollywood, where he directed Play...more
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