The Untold Story of The World’s Most Famous Dynasty

In The Women of Rothschild, Natalie Livingstone reveals the role of women in shaping the legacy of the famous Rothschild dynasty, synonymous with wealth and power.

Natalie Livingstone has given us a look at the women of Rothschild and a very interesting look it is.

From England to the United States and literally, everywhere in between, these extraordinary women led lives that we both can and cannot relate to.

Even their name did not really belong to them. They were Jews in a time that meant they were also on the outside looking in. In ghettos and looked down on, they were fiercely determined to succeed. Unable to bank with the Christians, they built their own bank and the rest is history. Or so they say.

They worked hard for every success. From the dregs of society to hanging with queens, and politicians and advocating for reforms, and working within the stock exchange. The women helped bring down those ghettos in Frankfurt. They were inspiring. Then they came to the United States where they hung with artists, musicians, and politicians.

If you think they floated through life on a pampered pillow, don’t think that. They had the same problems that all women had in those times. They made bad decisions and had troubles.

There was so much research in this book and I loved every bit of it!

NetGalley/ October 25, 20022, St. Martin’s Press

The Fascinating Women of the Rothschild Family

Starting in extreme poverty, the family became one of the wealthiest in the world. The Rothschilds are often thought of in terms of the men of the dynasty who played major roles in finance and politics. Although not as well know, the women besides being talented hostesses, were active in politics and the arts working for social reform, being astute diplomats, and even advising prime ministers.

I found it fascinating to follow the rise of the family from the Judengrasse outside Frankfort where Jews were confined to the heights of power and society in Britain. This book concentrates on the family of Nathan, one of the five original brothers, who settled in Britain. It was particularly interesting to see how the status of women changed from the days in the ghetto where Gutie, the founding mother, was cut out of her husbands will and thrown on to the generosity of her five sons, to the status of women moving higher and higher as the family rose to prominence.

The book is very long, but I found it easy to read for the most part. There are some sections that drag, but they didn’t ruin the book for me. The scholarship is outstanding. If you’re a history enthusiast, this book is perfect for you. However, it can also be enjoyed as the story of a family of remarkable women.

I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.

I received a copy of the Kindle ebook of this via NetGalley and all opinions are my own. My review will also be published today on my Goodreads account.

Natalie Livingstone has clearly done a lot of research in this volume containing multiple biographies of the women of the famous Rothschild banking family. She does a good job giving an overview of the English branch of the family, but as with books such as these, I don't pressure myself in remembering who everyone is, since there are so many members mentioned. Some of the women profiled do stand out, such as the witty Charlotte and outsider Blanche. With such a multitude, Livingstone does run into the problem of running out of steam towards the latter half of the book, which to me felt rushed in chronicling the lives of the later Rothschild women, and my eyes glazed over whenever politics was mentioned, but overall it's a good read.

4/5 stars

The name Rothschild conjures up images of wealth. It was a patriarchal dynasty and little has been written about the women. Natalie Livingstone looks at the Rothschild women beginning with Gutli Schnapper, the mother of this dynasty, who married Mayer Amschel Rothschild in 1770. Gutli’s father was a banker who trained her to assist in his business, making her an ideal partner for Mayer. As the family grew their sons each became involved in the business and branched out to the financial capitals of Europe. When Mayer died, his will divided the company between his sons, denying any stocks or participation to the women of the family. Gutli was left a substantial fortune, but even that was controlled by her sons. The matches between the men and their spouses were more like business transactions. When Gutli’s youngest daughter Henrietta found love, her choice was unsuitable to the family and her brothers set out to find a husband that would be an advantageous match for the family business. The wives and sisters became hostesses and ran the families. Nathan Rothschild settled in England with his wife Hannah, who hosted parties for major politicians. Later Charlotte became the most popular hostess in London.

Gutli died in 1849 at the age of ninety-five, but the generations that followed involved themselves in politics, the arts and science. The women were always there to support their children and their husbands but their own support came from the other Rothschild women. They were Jewish families in areas dominated by Christian societies. They worked behind the scenes to be accepted in this environment. They were also involved in the women’s movement and were often known for their philanthropy. During WWI several of the women stepped up to assist the family business and WWII saw further involvement. There was a Rothschild woman at Bletchley Park and one who joined the Free French to serve with her husband in Africa. This is a family that experienced great wealth and weathered scandals. Nica Rothschild became involved in the jazz music scene and befriended Charlie “Bird” Parker, who died in her home, a death whose circumstances became sensationalized in the papers. Livingstone fills her pages with fascinating stories that take you from Frankfurt’s Judengasse, the strip of land set aside for the Jews, to the manors and stately homes in Europe, to America and also to Israel, which recognized several of the Rothschilds for their contributions. This is well written and highly recommended. I would like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing this book for my review.

The Women of Rothschild The Untold Story of the World's Most Famous Dynasty by Natalie Livingstone reads like an epic novel...impressively researched and beautifully written. This is a rich history to dip in and out of–each generation of the tangled family tree provides Livingstone with fascinating women of wealth and influence who found important ways to defy the expectations of their era.

Excellent research source for many areas of interest.
Would I have chosen this book if I came across it on a shelf? No.
Did I thoroughly enjoy this book? Yes
Would I have LOVED to have this book in college for a few of my research papers? Absolutely.
This book has offered itself as an amazing secondary source for so many areas of research and interest – women’s history, Jewish history, Jewish women in the world, Jewish women in business, women in business, European history across many decades, sociology and the evolution of women’s existence in the world, and so much more.
While focusing on one particular, notorious family, this book also provides pivotal information about the world around these women and how the world impacted them and how they impacted the world.

A fascinating look into how “family” can help and/or hinder.
While the book does provide insight into the world, politics, business, sociology, and more over decades of modern history, it also provides thoughtful and impactful look into the lives of several women who were affected in various ways. This book really shows how your family can both hold you back (through explicitly denying you a place through a will) but also help you to soar and reach unimaginable goals (through your name, family connections, financial support, education, emotional support, and a firm foundation). Sometimes those truths exist at the same time.

Captivating secondary source filled with research gems about these remarkable women of this notorious family.
Stars 4
Would I Recommend? Yes

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

"The Women of Rothschild" by Natalie Livingstone was a fascinating look at the women of the Rothschild family. Although I was familiar with several of the men from this financial/political dynasty, I did not know anything about the female members of the family prior to reading this book. The Rothschild women are a unique and strong-willed group, and I enjoyed how the author took us through their lives and the impacts they had on the family, their social and political circles, and especially the arts. It was fun to read about their interactions with and influence on historical figures from music, art, and science. If you are interested in family or social histories, this is a great book to pick up!

***ARC received from St. Martins Press and NetGalley in exchange for honest review, opinions are all my own. Thank you!***

I will admit, I don’t know much about the Rothschild family just the name and that they are involved in banking so primarily superficial knowledge. So it was a delight to learn about this family in particular the women that formed the backbone of the family as they faced their own unique challenges being raised in a family that favored patriarchy and the idea of keeping it all within the family.

There are multiple branches of the Rothschild family but the book primarily focuses on the London branch of the family but touches on the other branches as the family remains incredibly interconnected not just as relatives but as they marry within the family. The book is then broken down further to focus on a few women from each generation within the London branch for different sections leading up to present day.

The women’s lives come alive on the page as the author details their stories through both their own words and the letters and stories that may have been written about them. Much of what they do is behind the scenes of the more powerful and well known men as was the place for the women at the time. They entertained in their houses, moved through social circles all to better the lives of their families. The Rothschild women knew the critical role that women played in advancing the family even if it meant potentially going against their own wants and desires. While others did go against the family wishes and things did not always turn out so well for them when it came to the family. The book handles both, showing the good and the bad of going against the men that controlled the family.

As the book moves through generations it shows how much the women began to grow and push more actively against the patriarchy. They married outside the family, sought their own interest that wasn’t just to benefit the family and even converted to Christianity. Even the men saw the benefit of the Rothschild women, when Nathan Rothschild died he made sure that Hannah, his wife, voice was valued when it came to banking. She had far more experience than her sons and he knew keeping her involved would overall benefit the family. The Rothschild women may not be able to inherit but they fought to make sure they were equals to their husbands and sons. Its fascinating to see how in the face of sexism from within most never backed down they were fighters, even if it meant fighting their own family.

Many of whom had to do this is the face of always being just outside of society as antisemitism was still rampant and subtle and clear from the writings of the women they were deeply hurt by this. Most were just looking for a place to be valued in the world for their families and for the Jewish people.

One of the downsides of this book and it has nothing to do with the writing or the author but at times its hard to keep the women straight. Many of them had the same name or a similar name which would have been common at the time. The author does a good job to make sure that the women are distinct and the reader can begin to tell them apart after a bit of writing. There is also a family tree at the beginning of the book which is not as easy to jump back do in digital form but would be useful in a hard copy.

I hope others will pick this book up and give these women a chance to have their stories told as they so deserved.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for a copy of The Women of Rothschild by Natalie Livingstone to review.

The Rothschilds are well-known, but as with most families and dynasties, it was the men who were well-known and written about. The women were firmly in the background, not the foreground. Through this book we learn how important and influential the Rothschild women actually were through their many letters and personal journals from their archive. The advisement they gave their husbands, the parties they hosted and the contacts and friendships made with the influential and famous people of their times and being Jewish in a very Christian world along with each generations public and private successes and tragedies.

This well-researched book from Livingstone brings the Rothschild women to the foreground showing how influential they actually were over many generations. This is definitely a book to add to your shelf.

The author has clearly put a lot of work into this book and it’s packed with factual information. Although, I did find it difficult to follow the narrative quite often, as the author would suddenly start talking about another person while discussing someone else. You really have to concentrate so as not to get mixed up. I also understand what some other reviewers say about the writing being a bit ‘dry’, but at least the author doesn’t go off at tangents or engage in speculation to liven up the story and/or fill out the blanks. It’s an honest account and I gained slot of history of the Rothchilds.

Natalie Livingstone’s The Women of Rothschild: The Untold Story of the World’s Most Famous Dynasty is a must-read book for everyone interested in the famous banking family or in women’s history. As Livingstone points out in her introduction, many writers have focused on the Rothschild men, but this is the first detailed study of the women behind the men.

Opening with Gutle Schapper’s 1753 birth, Livingstone describes the rigid boundaries of 18th Jewish life in Frankfurt, Germany. She paints a vivid picture of the dark, smokey air and confined space within the Judengasse (Jew’s Lane) ghetto near the slaughterhouse. The daughter of a banker, Gutle learned the banking business, and her family made a marriage match for her to Mayer Amschel Rothschild, who had also learned the banking business and whose surname came from the Rotes Schild (Red Shield), the name of the house built by a 16th century Judengasse ancestor. While raising a large family, Gutle also played an active role in the family business, children gradually scattering to England, France, Italy, and elsewhere.

Filled with stories of the Rothschild women, whether of those born as Rothschilds or those becoming Rothschilds by marriage, The Women of Rothschild points out the men’s frequent disdain for the women, relates the Rothschild brothers scheming to marry off twenty-three-year-old sister Henriette before she became a grey-haired old maid, describes Nathan Rothschild’s London wife’s lavish parties that were “as much about business as pleasure” as she entertained politicians , both British and foreign, and donated to charities, attracting interest of the press and quickly making the Rothschild name the most famous among British Jews.

The stories progress through branches and generations of the family. While the Rothschilds may have been known for banking, Livingstone demonstrates how the women, largely ignored by history and Christian society, expanded the family influence into other areas, such as education, politics, zoology, horticulture, sports, various fine arts, and women’s rights.

Natalie Livingstone’s extensive research has resulted in a fresh and informative look at one of the world’s most famous families. The Women of Rothschild is both scholarly and entertaining. In short, it is well worth reading.
My thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advance reader copy of this interesting and informative biographical history.

I have shared this review on Goodreads and will share it on Barnes and Noble after the release date.

The name Rothschild is known around the world. Its association with banking, wealth, and the aristocracy go hand in hand. This book, The Women of Rothschild, is an in-depth and fascinating look into the women behind the men of the Rothschild’s dynasty. Spanning over 250 years, Ms. Livingston’s work introduces us to generations of women within the dynasty, and shares their personal achievements and successes alongside their influence on the wealth and stature of the family.

The book starts with Gulte Rothschild, the original matriarch of the family. From the Jewish Ghetto of Frankfurt, her five sons would spread out across Europe and gave birth to the banking empire. There isn’t a part of history for the past 250 years that the Rothschilds haven’t been a part of. From the Napoleonic wars to Bletchley Park, from British Royalty and Prime Minsters to the creation of a Jewish Homeland in Palestine, and everything in between. This well researched tome is filled with how these women from a privileged and wealthy family helped to shape the course of history.

It did seem that the history thinned out after WWI, and even more after WWII. Also, an interesting note is that the one place the Rothschilds failed to have large impact on was the US. I highly recommend this book for history lovers, especially women’s history. In and age when women were not given the same education as men, and were expected to stay at home and raise children, the Rothschild women proved that not only were they capable to achieve success in the world of finance, they did so with the support of their fathers and husbands and all while managing the household.

I received an ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, and the author.

Fascinating well researched book about women who have been largely overlooked as part of the Rothschild dynasty because they were, well, women. While the early chapters might feel a bit dense, keep going because Livingstone does make them come to life. There's an argument to be made for reading this in hard copy vice kindle so that you can refer to the large and helpful family tree. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. It's a great read.

The Women of Rothschild is a detailed, In-depth, meticulously researched, steeped in history look at the women of the Rothschild family, beginning with the mother of the Rothschild dynasty, Gutle Schnapper, who was born in a German Jewish ghetto in 1753. Rothchild women were (are) strong, competent and capable, beginning with Gutle and continuing through the line, both those women born into the family and those who married into it. They have been intentionally and systemically marginalized, pushed aside, excluded from decision making and overt power, purposely omitted from wills, or if anything was left to them it was under the control of a male member of the family. They were expected to contribute to the family business but behind the scenes, not speaking out, not taking credit, knowing their place. I don’t know what the author had in mind, but for me the common theme was not that the Rothschild women achieved remarkable things, but that their achievements were in spite of the way they were shut out. My takeaway was frustration at this way of life and a not very favorable impression of the Rothschild men.

The book is well written and easy to read, although very long and so full of dates, places and transactions naturally centered around world events and the men that it seems more like a general history of this famous, rich family with the women just a part of it, rather than the celebration of the accomplishments of these women. In fact, their achievements were overlooked, their ideas uncredited and their potential untapped. Without the extraordinary efforts of author Natalie Livingstone and others like her we wouldn’t even be aware of what the Rothschild women did and continue to do.

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing an advance copy of The Women of Rothschild in exchange for my honest review. Although it wasn’t really what I expected it was still an enjoyable read. All opinions are my own.

Being a fan of historical works - I was very excited to have the opportunity to read this book. However, when I first started reading the dry - only the facts - beginning of the book and the mere size almost overwhelmed me! I almost gave up - I'm so glad I didn't!

Very well researched and written this book tells a story that needed telling. I also like the way it was divided - by generations by names - not years. Made it more readable. Great story of the great women of history.

As Jews in a Christian society and women in a deeply patriarchal family, they were outsiders. Excluded from the family bank by their patriach's will, they forged their own distinct dynasty of daughters and nieces, mothers and aunts. They became influential hostesses and talented diplomats, choreographed electoral campaigns, advised prime ministers, and advocated for social reform, and traded on the stock exchange. They mixed with everyone from Queen Victoria to Chaim Weizmann, Rossini to Isaiah Berlin, and the Duke of Wellington to Alec Guinness, as well as with amphetamine-dealers, suffragists and avant-garde artists. Rothschild women helped bring down ghetto walls in early nineteenth-century Frankfurt, inspired some of the most remarkable cultural movements of the Victorian period, and in the mid-twentieth century burst into America, where they patronized Thelonious Monk and drag-raced through Manhattan with Miles Davis.

I was intrigued by this book having heard of the Rothschild's but not knowing much about their history. I did get confused many times with all the names, intermarriages, and the same name multiple times. In the e-book format, the geneaology in the front of the book was too small to be of use and hopefully, the one in the book is better because it would be a big help to sort everyone out. That being said, the women were fascinating to read about and see what they accomplished even though the patriarch of the family denied them access to the banking aspect of the family (which I did not know). The women through the two centuries that were mostly covered were very successful in their own right and accomplish much. Be prepared for a VERY long book, but stick with it as it is very informative and obviously very well researched with all the notes at the end as proof. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting my request to read this book. I recommend in to anyone interested in history, especially women's history.

Considering how little has been written about the Rothschild women, this book was long overdue. So rich in history and presented in an engaging manner. I am glad to have read this book; courtesy of NetGalley. It was time well spent.

A fascinating history of one of the world's most financially successful families, the Rothschilds -- but focusing on the mostly unknown or ignored female members. Much as been written about the banking achievement of the men, but this detailed and lengthy story tells about the mothers, daughters and sisters who were successful in their own right.

The story picks up in the mid 18th century and follows the different branches of the family as they expand their business across Europe. They were both a close family and often a contentious one, with feuds and rivalries complicating their relationships.

I found this tale to be mostly absorbing, particularly as we reach modern times. Tied up in the women's accomplishments was the story of the family's Jewish identity and different members' long struggles to achieve political and societal equality. The author is clear that this family had unimaginable financial resources at their disposal and privilege galore.

Thanks to the publisher and to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is a very dense history book, and as per the author's notes, mostly concerns the women of the British branch of the family, and I would add, particularly in the more modern years of the 20th and 21st centuries, with a little French and German parts of the family thrown in for visits, matchmaking and weddings and family gatherings. The information about the women could not be presented without about half of the text relating to the male figures, so my initial expectations about the book differed from that actual text. This work certainly involved a lot of research and dedication, and provides an interesting addition to women's history. Having completed this book, I kind of wonder about the women in the other branches of the family in the other parts of Europe and wherever else they lived.

The Rothschild women were often advisors and partners of their husbands, even though, they were specifically left out of family businesses by the founder Mayer Amschel Rothschild. With their name, wealth, and connections, the women played significant roles in the march of political, economic, geopolitical, social and artistic history. The wealth and business did not necessarily shield them from the anti-Semitic nature of the world, from sickness, early death, unhappy marriages and lives, and many misfortunes. As the family grew and spread, beyond the original generations of the founders, Mayer and Gutle, and their five sons, and became more integrated into general culture, it seems to me, they became unmoored from the original moral boundaries, with some major exceptions. Perhaps the fact that so many cousins married each other through the generations, there may have been a genetic component to mental and physical health issues that many faced.

I am not sure I would have completed this book if I had not won it in the giveaway and had a personal commitment to review it. It certainly is the kind of book that I most like to read, and I am glad that I finished it. Not all of the pursuits were so interesting to me, so there was room for some skimming. It was challenging to keep up with all of the names and relationships, particularly as many of the names were used many times through out the 250 years covered in this history.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author Natalie Livingstone and publisher St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy of this terrific novel.

There was so much information! Some of it was very dense and some lighthearted. I loved that there was an ancestral chart in the beginning. It was hard to figure out since I was reading on my kindle.

I pre-ordered a copy so that I can thoroughly enjoy it and be able to flip back and forth.

I will update my review once I finish the hard copy.