Meet the Twomblys with Alyssa Maxwell – and a giveaway
By Liz, happy to welcome Alyssa Maxwell back to talk about the family at the center of her latest Gilded Newport Mystery, Murder at Vinland. And she’s doing a giveaway! Take it away, Alyssa!
Twombly—That’s a Funny Name!
Apparently, it’s of British origin, but the Twomblys who inhabit Murder at Vinland, my latest Gilded Newport Mystery, were American through and through. Hamilton Twombly was a businessman who worked as William Henry Vanderbilt’s financial adviser at the New York Central Railroad, and also served on the board of directors on several other railroads around the country.
But it’s not him we’re concerned with here, but his wife, Florence Adele Vanderbilt Twombly. Florence was William Vanderbilt’s daughter, making her the first Cornelius’s granddaughter and the sister of Cornelius II, who owned The Breakers in Newport. Now, we all know the story, played out fictionally in Julian Fellows’s The Gilded Age, of how Florence’s sister-in-law, Alva Vanderbilt, used her wits to persuade Caroline Astor to accept the Vanderbilt family into Society. But unlike Mrs. Astor, women like Alva, Mamie Fish, and Theresa Fair Oelrichs were known for their ostentation and “new money” antics and enjoyed seeing their names in the society columns.
Not so Florence Twombly. Much like Mrs. Astor and other blue-blooded, Knickerbocker wives, she abhorred publicity and turned up her nose at the press. Further reading, especially a memoir written by her French chef later in the 20th century, cemented in my mind the image of an intelligent, formidable woman who lived according to her own terms. She embodied a certain spirit that very much helped define Newport in the Gilded Age, and because of this, I chose to write Murder at Vinland with a particular focus on women—from the victims to the suspects to everyone in between. There are a couple of men here and there, but this is a story for the ladies.
Yes, men held the power when it came to the business of making money. They were the captains of industry, the robber barons, and controlled the business world from their board rooms in New York City. But money wasn’t enough for the families of the Four Hundred. They needed power, both politically and socially, and when it came to the latter, it was the women who were in charge. They determined who mattered and who didn’t, and they created powerful dynasties through the strategic marriages of their children. Vanderbilt, Astor, Wilson, Goelet, Van Alen—these are just a few society names that formed intricate connections through marriage.
Much of this strategizing and maneuvering took place in Newport during the Summer Season at balls, dinner parties, luncheons, picnics, and sporting events, etc., with women planning the social schedule and the men showing up accordingly. In short, during those six to eight weeks each year, women were the heads of their families.
Female strength is symbolized in the very house Florence Twombly lived in in Newport. Vinland was built in the 1880s by Catherine Lorillard Wolfe, an heiress (real estate and tobacco money) who never married and therefore controlled her own fate and finances. Inspired by legends of Vikings landing in Newport a millennium ago, she had imagery from Norse mythology incorporated into the design of the house. I make use of that fierce, warrior imagery when describing the relationship between Florence and my sleuth, Emma Cross. Unlike Emma’s relationship with other members of the Vanderbilt family, she and Florence aren’t close, with Florence often disapproving of Emma’s lifestyle. By the end of the book, though, they do find some common ground—that of being women in control of their lives. Not to mention Emma solving the murder that takes place at Vinland.
Readers: is there a woman whose strength inspires you? Could be someone you know, someone from history, or maybe one of the amazing athletes we saw during the Olympics. Share below to be entered for a chance to win a signed hardcover copy of Murder at Vinland! (For U.S. residents only due to shipping costs.) A winner will be chosen randomly and announced/contacted the next morning.
Alyssa Maxwell is the author of The Gilded Newport Mysteries and A Lady & Lady’s Maid Mysteries. A former nonfiction and fiction editor, Alyssa began writing at an early age. Growing up in New England and traveling to Great Britain fueled a passion for history, while a love of puzzles drew her to the mystery genre. She and her husband live in Florida, where they enjoy bike riding, antiquing, hiking nature trails, and shopping at the farmer’s markets, but their hearts remain in Newport, RI. You can learn more about Alyssa and her books at www.alyssamaxwell.com and connect with her on social media at:
Facebook – Gilded Newport, Facebook – Alyssa Maxwell, Instagram, Goodreads, Twitter
