| The Perennial Philadelphians: The Anatomy of an American Aristocracy Contributor(s): Burt, Nathaniel (Author), Moss, Roger W. (Contribution by) |
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ISBN: 0812216938 ISBN-13: 9780812216936 Publisher: University of Pennsylvania Press OUR PRICE: $94.95 Product Type: Paperback Published: October 1999 Annotation: E. B. White once said, only places that are a bit decadent are pleasant to live in. Charm, especially Philadelphia charm, wouldn't be the same without the tinge of decadence found in the lives of Philadelphia's upper class. The Perennial Philadelphians tells the story of the city's inherited aristocracy -- of Wanamakers and Drexels, of Biddies and Cadwaladers. Drawing on history, genealogy, politics, economics, the fine arts, private diaries, and the impressions and anecdotes of myriad living witnesses, Nathaniel Butt paints a fascinating portrait of Old Philadelphians. He traces the succession of a dynasty of doctors or lawyers, explores the country club scene, and takes us to regattas on the Schuylkill, fox hunts in Radnor, and horse shows in Devon. First published in 1963, this classic text has lost none of its timeliness. An adept social commentator, Burt cuts aside the centuries-old protective coloration in which Old Philadelphians have wrapped themselves, and reveals who these people are and how they manage to perpetuate themselves from generation to generation. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - History | United States - State & Local - General - Social Science | Anthropology - Cultural & Social |
| Dewey: 306.097 |
| LCCN: 98056457 |
| Series: Pennsylvania Paperbacks |
| Physical Information: 1.4" H x 6.1" W x 9.2" (2.30 lbs) 640 pages |
| Themes: - Cultural Region - Mid-Atlantic - Cultural Region - Northeast U.S. - Geographic Orientation - Pennsylvania |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: The Perennial Philadelphians tells the story of the city's inherited aristocracy--of Wanamakers and Drexels, of Biddles and Cadwaladers. Drawing on history, genealogy, politics, economics, the fine arts, private diaries, and the impressions and anecdotes of myriad living witnesses, Nathaniel Burt paints a fascinating portrait of Old Philadelphians. He traces the succession of a dynasty of doctors or lawyers, explores the country club scene, and takes us to regattas on the Schuylkill, fox hunts in Radnor, and horse shows in Devon. First published in 1963, this classic text has lost none of its timeliness. An adept social commentator, Burt cuts aside the centuries-old protective coloration in which Old Philadelphians have wrapped themselves, and reveals who these people are and how they manage to perpetuate themselves from generation to generation. |