The Women of Rothschild is a meticulously researched and well written nonfiction book, in the tales Ms. Livingstone presents about the women in the iconic Rothschild family. The men’s stories have lived on for many years, but the womens’ were lost to history due to familial and societal misogyny. The author has given the female Rotschilds voice in this title.

Spending time reading this, and learning about these women was fascinating.

Recommended.

My thanks to Net Galley and St Martin's for the invitation to read this very interesting and well researched book. I thought it a bit slow in parts but fascinating stories of the women behind all the men.

As I read this title, I was in wonder at how much research had clearly gone into it by the author. The Rothschild men are often told about in history, but their wives, daughters, etc are so often neglected to ve mentioned at all. This remedies quite a bit of that, beginning with the tale of the group matriarch, Gutle. As her family expands, you'll see how her children, and so on, become successful in banking, entertaining heads of state and royalty, and moving all around as their husbands get further into their own businesses. Behind every good man stands a good woman, and I recommend the stories of these incredible women!

In “The Women of Rothschild, the Untold Story of the World’s Most Famous Dynasty,” author Natalie Livingstone explores multiple generations of Rothschild women, both those born into the dynasty and those who married into it. Starting in 1753 with Gutle Rothschild, the family matriarch and mother of the five sons that would form the basis for the worldwide Rothschild family, the book covers many historical events and their impact on the Rothschild women and the Rothschild women’s impact on those same historical events. Wars, political movements, and domestic crises are just some of the areas covered by this book, which concludes with the twentieth century and twenty-first century Rothschild women.

Through Livingstone’s beautiful writing style and extensive research into private letters, diaries and family memoirs, the author brings each woman to vivid life. She details their contributions to politics, science and culture, as well as their interpersonal relationships with various family members. My only quibble with the book was that the lengthy period covered made it difficult at times to remember each individual and her relationship within the family. Although a genealogical chart was provided in the beginning of the book to help identify the women in relation to the family, it is difficult to read the chart in the ebook format as opposed to a print edition. However, as mentioned previously, the author’s meticulous research and almost poetic language made up for this minor annoyance. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the Rothschilds, Jewish history and women’s impact on historical events.

(Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me an ARC copy of the book in exchange for my honest review).

I started to read this thinking that it might be dry and possibly boring but it was not in any way either of those. The biographical details for each individual satisfied my interest and showed how they fit into their respective generations. I was amazed at the wealth of detail that Natalie Livingstone provided and yet it wasn't just a recitation of facts.

Most of these ladies enjoyed their wealth and all the trappings but they also recognised their responsibility to those less fortunate. Those might have been the locals working for them or in other cases the poor Jewish community in London.

The practice of marrying within the extended family worked for several generations but eventually, some family members were drawn to choose their spouses outside the family and even married out of their faith. It must have been difficult to endure the snubs from non-Jewish contemporaries and doubly so when marrying a Gentile which would have brought pressure and censure from both religious groups. I found it hard to imagine being made to marry a cousin in the second, third, and even fourth generation but I suppose in that era it was quite normal for marriages to be arranged for dowries, wealth, and land consolidation among non-Jewish upper-class women.

The blurb above summarises what the book is about but it can't tell you how truly interesting most of these ladies were. Many of them were quite brilliant and had a good head for business, particularly finance and investment. Their husbands or fathers controlled the banking empire but I am convinced after reading the book that they couldn't have done it without the input from their womenfolk.

I am so grateful that I was given the opportunity to find out about the women of the Rothschild dynasty. I have a lot more respect for them now that I have had a glimpse into their lives whereas previously I would have considered them merely spoiled, ridiculously rich wives or daughters of important men if I actually thought of them at all.

My thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for making it possible for me to read an advanced copy.

A look into the empire of the Rothschild women. The author did intense and well done research for this book. It is written on every page. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a unusual read for me, but I’m so glad I gave it a chance - it’s such an interesting book. The author draws on extensive research to craft the stories of the women of this formidable family - the roles they played (both outwardly and behind-the-scenes), the choices they made, and the endless ways they furthered the rise of this famous family. The writing is approachable and captivated my attention; the author has a particular gift for noting small details that help each scene come alive. If you’re looking for an unexpected and inspiring read about real-life women overcoming odds large and small, this is a great choice.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book.

About the only thing I knew about the Rothschild family when I started this book was that they were rich. Very, very rich. To be honest, I'd never thought about how they got that way. This book tells us and, wow, it wasn't easy. It was even harder for the women of the family given the blatant sexist attitudes of the time Gutle Snapper married Mayer Amschel Rothschild in 1770. I won't even attempt to summarize this book as it contains exhaustive research and reaches into the early 2000s, so would direct you to the book blurb for more specific bits of info within.

I have to also admit that I was expecting a drier, more scholarly read. Thank goodness I was wrong about that. Yes, it's long, but it also focuses on the people and how they reacted to events, not just the events of their lives. And, what amazing lives they lived. From Gutle's days in the surely claustrophobic confines of the Judengasse, a narrow, shadowy, crowded stretch of land on the east side of Frankfurt where Jews were basically confined (and forced to pay), to Miriam in more modern times as she moves about the world, they had an impact upon not just the family but the world. Let's just say, modern Israel owes the Rothschild family.

It was interesting to see how each generation moved within the norms of the time, from Gutle's days when Mayer's will cut her and his daughters out of his inheritance and basically turned over their well-being to their brothers, to Miriam's world which spanned the resistance movement of WWII into more modern times as a respected scientist and benefactor. Famous faces make an appearance, all of which kept me busy aligning my own knowledge of the time (being a history major helped) to movies given appearances by Clark Gable and Alec Guinness.

Bottom line, there's a great deal to take in from this book and I'll admit to reading it in bits and pieces and, gasp, yes, even skimming sections at times. I also spent some time going back and forth from the index to the topic listed to make sure I hadn't missed anything, wishing I had the time to read the lengthy list of articles and citations at the end. Admittedly, this isn't a book for everyone, making it difficult to rate, but if you love history, are intrigued at the idea of a woman's place in historic events, or are just simply curious about how this one family that began in dire poverty not only survived but thrived, give it a read. Yes, it's long but, hey, no one said you have to read it in one day.

Thanks #NetGalley and #StMartinsPress for opening my eyes to not only a fascinating family and the role of its women throughout history but introducing me to some bits of history that I had only a passing knowledge of. Kudos to author #NatalieLivingstone for making that possible.

Before reading this I knew very little about the Rothschild family, but I was totally absorbed in their history. The women were absolutely fascinating, each in her own era. I would have loved to have been able to meet some of them, especially Miriam.
In addition, it was a history of antisemitism and how it affected the Jewish families. And it showed the extra layer of strength required by all of the women.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy of this book.

I absolutely LOVE this type of book and it’s the type of book I absolutely struggle with.
So many names places and facts thrown out my brain starts to feel like mush.
Very worth the read - strong independent women navigating a man’s world (AND family) - this book is full of gripping and enthralling stories. Sometimes my brain just got distracted by minutiae instead of enjoying the tale so I would have to double back. This it took me longer than my average read, required a bit more concentration and focus. I may have taken a few extra reading breaks and a bit more time but I never doubted that I would soon pick it back up and dive back in.

The Women of Rothschild was a very interesting look into one of history's richest families. I really liked the focus on each of the women in the family, and how they were involved in English society. I also appreciated spotlighting how influential they were.

The Rothschilds are a dynasty eponymous for wealth, but the women of the family have been long relegated to the shadows of history despite their major influence on English culture and society in their time.

The only thing I knew about the Rothschilds before reading this book was the myth about Nathan Rothschild making a treacherous fortune on the news of Waterloo. I had not considered the women of this family at all - which really is a shame, considering how fascinating they are.

In this book, Livingstone traces the lives of the Rothschild women who lived in England - the descendants of Nathan Mayer, who was one of the five brothers who established the family bank as an international entity. The women led fascinating lives, involving themselves in politics, charity, science, and even the family business despite a generation-long edict against female involvement. Despite the plethora of people discussed in the book, they were easy to tell apart due to the way the author strongly established their personalities.

However, the timeline of the book occasionally became confusing as we moved back and forth between the women being profiled in the different sections. I was also really disappointed that, after the level of detail in the first half of the book, some of the women in Parts III and IV were barely touched upon, though I am aware that this may have been due to the destruction of family papers that Livingstone referenced a few times throughout the book.

Although this is not the type of book that makes up the bulk of my reading, I was offered a chance to read an advance copy, and I am glad that I decided to do it! This is a comprehensive account of many of the women who were part of the famous Rothschild dynasty, women whose role in the development and growth of this family was an enormous one, as they were extremely influential in a variety of ways.

This historical tome is very well-written, and I applaud the author for the meticulous research she has done. All in all, this was an enjoyable read and a fascinating look at the women who were a part of this iconic family.

The Women of Rothschild
By Natalie Livingstone

The story of the Rothschild family of German Jews, which grew to be the pre-eminent banking family throughout Europe, has been told many times. This book goes beyond the male Rothschild line and tells the story of the remarkable women – whether born Rothschild or married into the family – who worked behind the scenes to support their husbands' enterprises. But more than promoting the family business, these women became patrons of the arts, philanthropists, and shrewd politicians. They were wives and mothers – but most of all, they were women in an age where women were supposed to be decorative and subservient to their husbands' wants and needs.

These women were not perfect. Several married outside their religion which was anathema to their more conservative relatives. They did not always like and respect their various aunts, uncles, and cousins. But they worked hard to gain respect for the Rothschild name and family.

This is an interesting peek behind the male dominated façade of a powerful family and the women who made it strong.

Absolutely fascinating story of the individuals in the Rothschild family who had more power than we knew. I only wish their independence and individuality shone through a bit more.

The Women of Rothschild by Natalie Livingston is an immensely readable, well documented history of the contributions made by the female members of the family. From its early 19th century beginning in the Frankfurt ghetto through the beginning of the 21 century readers experience a unique story not only of the ever expanding family but how they adapted to what was happening in the world at the time. It’s a story about subjugation to liberation to recognition that should resonate with all students of history. I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book from NetGalley. Most highly recommend.

I wish to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. I have voluntarily read and reviewed it. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is a book that is very slow, heavily researched and reads like a college textbook. I did not know much of the Rothschild Dynasty and certainly did not know that it was an exclusive male dominated one. The purpose of this book is to reveal the power behind the male family members and it explains it thoroughly through all the marriages to uncles, cousins etc. to keep the wealth in the family. You meet each generation and walk with them through their lives. It covers about 250 years up to modern day America. However, most of the book is set in England with references to Germany, France, and Israel. These Rothschild women were not allowed to inherit the family business. The women were strong advocates of Jewish women’s rights, suffragettes, the arts, history, and science and in many other social issues. The women were well educated, many spoke several languages and they helped to direct the successes of their husbands who were active in politics in whatever country they were living. Some of the men were members of Parliament, heads of the enormous banking industry and leaders of society. The pictures throughout the book were wonderful views of the many mansions they lived in and pictures of the women in formal attire. The women were very strong and influential. I really did learn a lot but sometime I found myself skimming through parts that were less interesting. If the history of fabulously wealthy families is something you are interested in learning this book is certainly for you

I love nonfiction historical books. This one reads like it’s actually fiction it’s so interesting. I couldn’t wait to finish and then I started reading it again.

The Women of Rothschild

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are completely my own. I give this book 5+stars for the thorough research that went into it, the amount of time it covered and historical accuracy.
However, as entertainment value, it is more like three stars, it often reads like a textbook and it just couldn’t hold my attention and interest.
Thanks NetGalley for the advanced copy.

There is much information about these amazing women. Interesting but dense information. History from a female perspective is one that should be shown more. It gives the reader new ways to view the past.