I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A very fascinating read. If you like books about the gilded age you will enjoy this.

DNF @ 10%. I won't be saying much about this one. I'm sure it's going to be fine for some but unfortunately I wasn't one of them - this one was just really wordy and too dry for me. Thank you, but I'm going to pass on finishing it.

This book is mainly a story of John & Ishbel Gordon, a titled and very wealthy Victorian couple who, by the time they died lost their immense fortune, partly through philanthropy and partly through spending. This book took me a while to get through, non-fiction often goes slower than fiction especially when dealing with British nobility and their ever changing hereditary titles (it takes a bit to remember who's who). Being that both John and Ishbel came from wealthy families and were the Marquess and Marchioness of Aberdeen, you would expect that maintiaining their wealth would be easy, but Simon Welfare shows that through profligate spending on land and houses, poor investments, charitable works, and the expense of being Lord Lieutenant of Ireland (twice) and Governor General of Canada as well as the general upheaval of Victorian England can quickly drain the coffers. I really enjoyed this work, even if it took me a while to finish, John and Ishbel sound like wonderful people, taking care of their tenants, servants and the less fortunate whenever possible and I think they would have been interesting to meet. The author had immense access to a treasure trove of documents from Haddo House and grew up in the area and his knowledge sets a wonderful picture of the family and locations.

I receive a free e-book from NetGalley & Atria.

This book was unreadable. I tried several times but could get no further than a page or two,
Uninteresting topic and very poorly developed. I give it one star!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

This wasn’t for me. There was too much about architecture and decor and not enough about their philanthropy. Obviously a lot of research was done, but I’m amazed that anyone kept such detailed records of the domestic details. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

I really liked the information in this story. I liked seeing the rise and fall of the family. Although the fall was unfortunate I liked seeing the way it happened.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Fortune's Many Houses is a fascinating look at the Marquess and Marchioness of Aberdeen, a couple who deserve more attention. As a Canadian who studied in Ireland, I was quite interested to read about them as they spent time in both countries, and continued to pursue their philanthropic efforts no matter where they were. It is an easy-to-read book, and Welfare helpfully provides background information and conversions. However, I would have edited this a bit, as it can start to feel a tad long at points.

The author does an amazing job of breathing life into the characters. What could easily be a black-and-white, dry recital of biographical details and blueprints is instead a vibrant picture of a particular place, time, and social strata.

Fortune’s Many Houses is a historical book that follows the lives of the Marquess and Marchioness of Aberdeen. The book draws you into the lives and times of the couple and those around them. We learn the sweet story of how the couple met, their work to help others, the pains they face in life, the homes they owned and lived in, and the fortune that was lost. A perfect book for history lovers and true romantics.
(I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.)

"Fortune's Many Houses" follows the lives of Johnny and Ishbel Hamilton-Gordon, Lord and Lady Aberdeen. Two very rich aristocrats with the unusual (for the time) desire to help members of the working classes and the poor- not through mere charitable donations but by actively providing support and building organizations to assist. Whether in Scotland, Ireland, America, or elsewhere Johnny and Ishbel do their best to help those in need and support family members, Much of Simon Welfare's focus goes (as the title suggests) to the houses they bought, rented, briefly lived in, and renovated. Every place they lived was renovated extensively and expensively. I enjoyed the descriptions of the renovations and decorations, true examples of over the top spending to make homes 'livable'. I do wish the book had been a bit tighter written to help keep the narrative flowing, as I often got lost or distracted by side stories and extensive footnotes. All interesting, but taking away from the main family we are meant to be focused on. The regular use of foreshadowing disaster ('if only they had known then', 'the next time they met would be under very different circumstances' etc.) got old and definitely distracted rather than added to my reading of the narrative flow.

Overall, an interesting book on two people trying to do good while clearly not being as practical as they should have been, this is perhaps more than the casual nonfiction reader will want to handle.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Is it a rich people thing to have no idea how to manage your money and then spend it lavishly on things you don't need? This is a large part of what I got out of Fortune's Many Houses - maybe because I don't have lots of money, and I'm not British, so the prestige of many of these things goes straight over my head. Don't get me wrong, the Aberdeens, the focus of this recounting, did start many initiatives that helped improve the lives of many people. They also were more humane and supportive to their staff than many landed (and lorded) people of their time. But it's hard not to focus on the excessiveness of their nature when reading this book. It's interesting and informative, but also more than a little bit exhausting and bewildering. The author is full of facts, and to some extent this does Welfare a disservice. There is a tremendous number of footnotes in the book, many quite extensive, but in reading them it takes away from the general flow of the book. As interesting as they are the book would have felt tighter and more focused if these had been more limited in nature. This book may be perfect for readers with a fascination with members of the British aristocracy, particularly in the dying days of having large and multiple landed properties - but may be a little much for a casual nonfiction reader.

historical-places-events, historical-research, history-and-culture, historical-setting, family-dynamics, friendship, class-consciousness, social-issues, late-19th-century, early-20th-century, women's rights*****

Outstanding people with terrific ideas (which they did implement) but poor money management skills who left a lasting legacy for people on more than one continent. This is a very well researched and written history of the ideas and their implementation by highly motivated but spendthrift people which is unlikely to be repeated today. Despite the minutiae and the translation of money, this is a very readable book, not just in the nonfiction genre either! Excellent descriptions!
I requested and received a free temporary ebook copy from Atria Books, a division of Simon and Schuster, Inc. via NetGalley. Thank you to Raaga Rajagopala.

I was given an advance reading copy of this book directly from the publisher as well as NetGalley.com in exchange for a fair review. The story of the Marquess and Marchioness of Aberdeen, Johnny and Ishbel Gordon, took many unusual twists and turns. They started out as a very wealthy couple who lived on an elaborate estate in Scotland. Their story could have begun and ended there, but these two had other plans. Ishbel was not only a philanthopist, but she worked hard to improve the lives of women and children by opening schools and advocating for women's rights. When Queen Victoria appointed Johnny Viceroy to Ireland, their tireless efforts endeared them to the suffering Irish. Likewise, when Johnny was appointed Governor of Canada, they worked hard to ensure that the lives of those hardworking people were made better. The Gordons's biggest problem was that they spent more money than they brought in and when they died in the 1930s, they were flat broke, but the good works they left behind became their legacy. Author Simon Welfare did a great job researching and bringing to life the Gordon family (of which his wife is a descendent). He had access to many papers, letters, and various documents that detailed the activities of the Marquess and Marchioness. My only complaint was that the wealth of information was a bit scattered at times, but interesting nonetheless. I think Ishbell summed it up nicely when she said that she might have made many mistakes, but hoped she did more good than harm. We all should be as selfless as Johnny and Ishbel. Nicely done, Mr. Welfare. We could all learn something from this magnanimous couple who rarely thought of themselves.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Fortune’s Many Houses is an engaging look at the lives of Johnny and Ishbel Gordon, Lord and Lady Aberdeen, through the various houses they lived in, built, and expanded during their marriage. I enjoy reading social histories and was hooked on this story after a few chapters. The Aberdeens led fascinating lives and the author walks us through the ups and downs of their journey, as well as the political and societal changes of the time, in a well-researched and smooth narrative. There were some moments when the timeline seemed to jump forward or backward and got a bit confusing, but the main thread of the story was consistent and kept me on track. Extensive footnotes expanded on many topics to add effective context to the book.

This is a great read for anyone interested in the dramatic political, economic, and societal changes that occurred in the United Kingdom and Ireland at the end of the 19th century and the early 20th century.

This is the compelling riches to rags story of Marquess and Marchioness of Aberdeen who lived the majority of their years during the Victorian era. Their land and estates were worth millions upon millions in today's currency but due to their lavish spending habits (balls and festivals rivaled those of royalty, not to mention their huge staff of 70 at times and many vast home refurbishments and builds), generosity (they not only gave of their time but finances to a large number of causes, many of which Ishbel herself implemented and patronized) and naivette (they bought land in Canada and America sight unseen at times, or very infrequently visited) nearly every penny was spent at the time of John's death. It is unfathomable for us to imagine. But Johnny and Ishbel were accustomed to pure luxury and thought their land and ranches would be much more productive and profitable than they were (climate and poor management were huge factors). They were also taken advantage of by many.

Simon Welfare has clearly researched this subject thoroughly from letters and other documentation to provide his readers with more than just a glimpse into these fascinating lives which were spent living in Scotland, England, Ireland, Canada and America. Though this level of lifestyle may seem enviable, in my opinion it wouldn't be. There were endless parties, events, meetings, teas and balls to attend, often several a day as well as many high-ranking people to impress (Ishbel's jewels and clothing were worth a fortune) and many organizations to keep afloat. Wherever they went Ishbel gave, including talks in Manitoba about beautification, art shows in the UK and the Victoria Union of Nurses in Canada (this story was one of my favourites as I know all about the brutal weather on the Canadian prairies and north). To facilitate greeting many people and dignitaries it was necessary in their view to build and rebuild homes, adding spectacular rooms. Knowing the value of some of of the old masters' artworks which they owned alone is mind blowing, let alone everything else. This extreme privilege does not make one happy, as they discovered. Their lives were affected by deaths and other tragedies, too. Hard work and insane hours took their toll as well. Their children were cherished but how much time did they have to spend with them? Amongst their close friends were the Gladstones. Authors including Anthony Trollope and J. M. Barrie wrote about them. Not everyone loved this couple.

I was unaware of the origin of Golden Retrievers! What I liked best about Johnny and Ishbel was their drive for social awareness and change, regardless of what others thought. They plowed ahead, doing what they felt was right and just which at times took them into dubious neighbourhoods. So many moves would not be easy, either. Yes, their homes were extraordinary but they usually spent a few months here before moving on to the next one due to Johnny's many official duties including being the Governor General of Canada. There is so much more, including their last days and final financial worth after having to sell everything they possibly could, even furniture!

This entrancing book was remarkably interesting to read and I recommend it to anyone interested in this era, especially Nonfiction readers. You will undoubtedly learn a great deal.

My sincere thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this fabulous book in exchange for an honest review. Much appreciated.

Fascinating true story about a time and place in history that reads like a gripping novel. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this ARC for review.

This is the 1st book I've read written by Simon Welfore ; great job at writing a good book;

The story line caught my attention at the very beginning and kept me interested throughout the entire book.

I loved the characters.

I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley and I’m voluntarily leaving a review.

Welfare provides an in-depth look at one family of privilege and their efforts to give back to society. Most Victorian era rich gave to charitable donations, but this family outshone them. I found the reading informative while being educational. One aspect that I really liked was the conversion of British pounds to American dollars. I always wonder about the conversion so I was pleased to see that provided. Stories of the peerage has always fascinated me and I liked this one.

Delightfully non-fiction historical book they kept me engrossed while I read it. I love history books about this time and this was no exception