Member Reviews

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

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Women of Rothschild is a very well researched and detailed history of the Rothschild wives, mothers and daughters. It shows the history of the various times in history including the founding of Israel and Great Britain's role. It can be a heavy slog but interesting, nonetheless

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This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, from St. Martin's Press and #NetGalley. Thank you for the opportunity to preview and review. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

A remarkable book about fascinating women. Natalie Livinstone obviously did the research as this is a beautiful, well done history of a well regarded family.

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The Women of Rothschild by N. Livingstone, published by St. Martin's Press is a lesson in history I didn't wanted to miss.
A fascinating glimpse into their world, mostly set in Europe and America; paints this book an intriguing picture, is witness to time and society, faith and social status.
An unputdownable read, 4,5 stars.

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This book was so interesting and thereby researched. Women, wow. Natalie Livingstone reveals the role of women in shaping the legacy of the famous Rothschild dynasty. What a great read.

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This book is so well researched and presented that I read it in just two sittings. The stories of the Rothschild women is engrossing and surprisingly enlightening. The years that these women lived in should have made them subservient, obedient wallflowers. Instead, they became leaders of social reform, societal leaders and dabblers in the politics of the day. A great book for those of us who praise our suffragette ancestors.
Thank you NetGalley for providing this copy. The review here is solely my own opinion.

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This was an interesting dive into this historically accurate time period. I enjoyed the stories of these women and how they were able to thrive in yesterday's society. This was a very well researched book and was well-written. However, the information was extremely dense at times and was difficult to follow in some of the mundane background information.

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I found this to be an infinitely interesting book, about a world-famous family who, over the centuries, has made its mark in finance, art, culture, and religion. However, this book speaks of the Rothschild women as opposed to the men in the family, and the marks they made, not only in their own families, but to society as a whole. As the decades passes and women became more able to speak their minds and follow their own interests, so did these women, and the world is a better place for them.

My thanks to NetGalley for a digital ARC of this book; all opinions are my own.

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This book gives the history of the Rothschild family through the lens of certain of the women members. I found this book to be full of interesting anecdotes and facts from the lives of the women chosen. It particularly drove home for me the “closeness” of history- what we consider historical was really just a few generations removed, and the changes witnessed in the time period covered were remarkable. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in European history or well-known women.

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The second I saw this book I knew I had to read it. I adore history, especially female centered history. This book has incredibly stories about the Rothschilds. It's a wonderul plot following the real life rise of the family.

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The Women of Rothschild by Natalie Livingstone is a non-fiction book that reads like a novel. I have always been fascinated by the Rothschilds and was absolutely thrilled to dive into this ARC. The author's research shines on every page, though her storytelling skills turn history into a much more immersive experience. I look forward to Ms. Livingstone's next book-highly recommend!

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The Women of Rothschild is an engrossing, engaging and utterly compelling personal look into the lives of the Rothschild women from the time of founding father Mayer Amschel Rothschild and his wife Gutle in the 18th century through the French Revolution to the world wars to recent times. Talk about a brilliant book! The sheer amount of information presented is astounding. Natalie Livingstone meticulously researched and along with photographs, family tree and vivid descriptions tells the story of the women in particular, the parts they played and their roles of the times. Some of them were fiercely independent and bucked social norms; some were traditional. The family was known as the "Jewish Royal Family", living in the difficult world where Jews were slandered and treated abysmally. But over time the women raised their children to blend with Christians. Their name was connected with Disraeli, Gladstone, P. T. Barnum and Tom Thumb as well as Queen Victoria and the wealthy London set.

Not only does Livingstone describe personal details such as feelings toward Judaism, finance, childbirth, medical conditions and treatment of the time, death and sorrow (one death from a boil) but also luxurious homes and hosting majestic balls. Weddings, marriages and child-rearing are described, amongst the most fascinating information in the book in my opinion. Rothschilds were fodder for cartoon satires and wrote fascinating wills which often slighted the women. The women's personalities are as varied as can be in a family. Learning about what drove them politically, socially, religiously and personally was such a pleasure.

If you are even slightly intrigued by this family, do read this book. It is lengthy but riddled with interesting stories which makes me feel smarter. Well worth reading.

My sincere thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the privilege of reading this riveting and fabulous book. I enjoyed it tremendously!

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The Women of Rothschild
The Untold Story of the World's Most Famous Dynasty
by Natalie Livingston

I am a bit of a conspiracy theorist so the chance for a deep look into the Rothchild's was definitely an exciting prospect for me.

It was really an enigmatic look into the building of an empire into a world of wealth that seemingly ignores what the women in the family accomplish. Interesting really considering they were used a lot in the banking world as what the men considered, free labor.

Even since the very start the family have been entrepreneurs and widely independent. They have had their fingers in many pies over the centuries and seeing just where these women fit has really been quite interesting. The fact that they accomplished what they accomplished back then, during a time where Jews were treated like vermin, is actually quite inspiring.

The clause in Mayer’s will must have been heartbreaking for his daughters but I bet it didn’t come as any real surprise.

It was really quite an insightful read. I had no idea of the inner workings of the earlier Rothchild’s and how independent and savvy a lot of the women were. I would love to know more to be honest, about the family. I felt this book, while well researched, opened up a rabbit hole for me now. I have questions.

It was a little spiritless, I felt the tone was a little one dimensional. I felt it could have done with tonality and a little personality into the writing but that might be just me. It could have been a lot more gripping of a read with a little color.

The author did a lot of research and it was stitched together very well. It was a very pragmatic approach for providing the history.

Definitely worth the read and if you have an interest in the Rothchild's or are a conspiracy theorist like me, this is one for your shelves.

Thank you Netgalley and St Martin's Press for my ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

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What amazing research and intriguing writing!
Huge appreciation to NetGalley and publishers for allowing me to get an ARC of this research.

It is interesting, that only by reading this work, I realize that despite a vast amount of literature and research on the dynasty of Rothschild, we always read and concentrate on the founder of the dynasty and all the decisions his male descendants made. Surely, times and values were different and most of the time women, who were raised and stood by men were very much in the shadow, given their roles, but especially in Jewish culture, the role of the mother, amma of the family, is pretty heavy. Which is tried to be portrayed in this work.
The women of Rothschild managed to create a spirit and inspire their husbands/sons, help them in their way from poverty to absolute world power, and managed to keep values, beliefs, and religion in their lives.

An absolute must-read for anyone interested in the history of Rothschilds, 19-20 century history, why not feminist movement.

An easy and pretty fascinating read!

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THE WOMEN OF ROTHSCHILD: The Untold Story of the World's Most Famous Dynasty
by Natalie Livingstone
St. Martin's Press
Out Oct 25


I learned so much about the Rothschild dynasty while reading Natalie Livingstone's intriguing history of its women. Jewish in a Christian world, the family started in extreme poverty and amassed great wealth over time. The author contends that the Rothschild women, while never able to work in the family's bank during the early 19th Century to the beginning of the 20th, were still influential in the rise of the family's social status as well as its gain in riches.

The extraordinary story gripped me as it moved from London to the U.S. Eastern seaboard, from Scotland to Bletchley, and from Buchenwald to the Vatican to Palestine.

Well-written and researched, The Women of Rothschild is highly recommended for history buffs and readers captivated by real life stories of influential women. Brava, Natalie!

Thanks to the author, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are mine.

#TheWomenOfRothschild #StMartinsPress#NatalieLivingstone #NetGalley #HistoryOfWorldsMostFamousDynasty #19thCenturyHistory #20thCenturyHistory #bookstagramcommunity

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This was an interesting read. It was a part of American history I was not familiar with. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early read.

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You not only get the history of the Rothschild women but of Jewish history as well. These women were the real backbone and driving force of the family. Politics, art, charities and education are just some of the areas these women excelled. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

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