Review of 'Empty Mansions: The Mysterious Life of Huguette Clark and the Spending of a Great American Fortune' on 'Goodreads'
3 stars
I enjoyed this book; although, I found some of the story anticlimactic. I guess, this should go without saying considering the Clarks are the most unknown super-wealthy family of the current age.
It’s difficult to fathom that a man who was at least as wealthy as the Rockefellers and Carnegies is virtually forgotten today. It makes it clear that a succession plan is very important.
Being from Las Vegas, I always assumed Clark County was named for the Lewis and Clark expedition, so I was surprised to discover it’s named after Huguette’s father and Senator, W.A. Clark, who also came up with the name of Las Vegas.
My mother’s family is from Butte, Montana, and I discovered this book when we visited this past summer to visit family and to give my mom a tour of her childhood stomping grounds. We also visited the Butte Copper King Mansion, aka The …
I enjoyed this book; although, I found some of the story anticlimactic. I guess, this should go without saying considering the Clarks are the most unknown super-wealthy family of the current age.
It’s difficult to fathom that a man who was at least as wealthy as the Rockefellers and Carnegies is virtually forgotten today. It makes it clear that a succession plan is very important.
Being from Las Vegas, I always assumed Clark County was named for the Lewis and Clark expedition, so I was surprised to discover it’s named after Huguette’s father and Senator, W.A. Clark, who also came up with the name of Las Vegas.
My mother’s family is from Butte, Montana, and I discovered this book when we visited this past summer to visit family and to give my mom a tour of her childhood stomping grounds. We also visited the Butte Copper King Mansion, aka The Clark Mansion.
My grandfather worked in the mines in Butte before being injured and moving to Las Vegas. Now I wonder if he moved because of the connection between Clark and Nevada. Clark was an early investor in the tiny community that would become Las Vegas.
As I listened to the description of the New York mansion, I found that I really wanted to tour it, so I was a bit devastated to find out what happened to it. So, so sad.
When I discussed this book with my mom, she seemed sad and said, “Money doesn’t buy happiness.” I agree, but I don’t think that’s the lesson from this book because clearly having money doesn’t guarantee despair either.
I honestly believe that Huguette was as happy as she could be until she passed away. She was a recluse by choice as much as can be discerned from the stories in this book, especially when considering the quote from The Cricket, “To live happily, live hidden.” I also loved the idea that she enjoyed giving her treasure away to people while she was alive, so she could see them enjoy it.
The Cricket: en.wikisource.org/wiki/Translation:The_Cricket
Thanatopsis: www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/50465/thanatopsis
