I think it's important to go into this with your expectations in check. Despite what the title may imply, this isn't some grand chronology of the entire Vanderbilt family legacy; this is much more akin to a scrapbook—each chapter being a snapshot of some important event, personal and/or historical, revolving around various members of the family. The prose is very lovely and I found myself often catching on a well-written phrase or fascinating detail. However, the narrative had a tendency to meander and focus in on things that don't feel the most relevant, so the pacing dragged at times. I definitely liked Cooper's narration and the personal touches he brought to the piece, though.