by Meryl Gordon
First published 2017
Bunny Mellon lived at the center of American power for decades while avoiding public attention. This biography reveals the woman who transformed the White House grounds for President Kennedy and moved through elite circles of politics, art, and fashion until her death at 103 in 2014. Author Meryl Gordon gained unprecedented access to Mellon's private papers, including thousands of pages of personal correspondence, diary entries, and daily schedules. Gordon interviewed more than 175 people who knew the enigmatic socialite. The book reconstructs how Mellon witnessed and influenced major events of the twentieth century while maintaining her famous discretion. Gordon shows how this talented woman shaped American taste and culture from behind the scenes. The biography captures Mellon's complex personality and her role as both style icon and American aristocrat.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, american, biography-memoir, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: biography, historical-figure
Setting: United States, White House
Period: 20th Century, 21st Century
528 pages · Hardcover · Grand Central Publishing