The Riviera Set: Glitz, Glamour, and the Hidden World of High Society

In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries the French Riviera was considered by the smart set to be suitable territory for winter vacations, but far too hot to be enjoyed during the summer months. That idea changed in the 1930s thanks primarily to the heroine of the first sections of this well written chronicle of life among the beau monde. Mary Lovell, an excellent writer and researcher well known for her biographies of Amelia Earhart, Beryl Markham, and Richard and Isabel Burton as well as her chronicles of the Mitford and Churchill families, has here provided her readers with the story of a special place populated by special people from about 1930 to 1960.The story begins with Maxine Elliott, born Jessica Dermot in a small Maine seaport in 1868. Blessed with great beauty and keen intelligence, she became an actress who achieved great dramatic success on both sides of the Atlantic, earned quite a lot of money which she prudently invested, and made her way into High Society. In the early 1930s she had a beautiful house built on the rugged shore near Cannes. The Chateau de l'Horizon was a marvel of architectural and engineering skill, and it quickly became a magnet for the hordes of people who came to lunch or dinner, or who moved into one of the many suites and stayed for weeks at a time. Noel Coward, Somerset Maugham, Coco Chanel, the Duke of Westminster and dozens of others enjoyed Maxine's hospitality there, but her most famous guest was Winston Churchill. During his wilderness years when he was out of power and seemingly at an end of his usefulness, Churchill would often spend lengthy periods at Chateau de l"Horizon, writing books and making plans for an eventual comeback. It can be argued that Churchill would not have had the drive and energy it took to become Prime Minister in the spring of 1940 had he not had the Chateau as a refuge.Maxine Elliott died in March 1940 and the Chateau was occupied and damaged during the World War II years. But after 1945 it took a new lease on life when Prince Aly Khan, wealthy son of the Aga Khan, fell in love with the place and bought it. Once again the Chateau was a magnet for Society, and the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, the Kennedys, Pamela Churchill (later Harriman), Aristotle Onassis, Elizabeth Taylor, and of course Prince Aly and his movie star wife Rita Hayworth were frequent habitues. Aly Khan's death in a car accident in 1960 brought the second period of the Chateau de l'Horizon's social eminence to a close. It is now owned and apparently great expanded by the Saudi Royal Family.I enjoyed The Riviera Set very much for the depictions of the interplay between the social, artistic, and political worlds that took place at the Chateau. It was interesting to be reminded yet again of the insularity of international High Society, where everyone seemed to know everybody else and everyone constantly ran into everyone else in the same places. In the great scheme of things Maxine Elliott and her Chateau were not pivotal figures, but they did provide an oasis of comfort and beauty at just the right time for some people who did indeed go on to make a massive difference in the world,and for that we can be grateful to them and to Lovell for telling their story.

The Riviera Set: Glitz, Glamour, and the Hidden World of High Society is an engaging, well-researched Trans-Atlantic social history of cafe society, royalty, statesmen, and celebrities from the beginning of the 20th century through the late 1960s. Author Lovell uses a clever approach, by organizing the book around the history of the owners and visitors to the famous Chateau de l'Horizon on the Cote d'Azur.The first two-thirds of the book focus on the American actress and socialite Maxine Elliott, who became a popular figure in British social circles between the wars. A shrewd investor with an eye for the theatrical, Elliott and architect Barry Dierks built the villa for the purpose of entertaining Elliott's society friends, including Winston Churchill, who often wintered at the house. Lovell goes into great detail about Churchill's visits to the villa -- and into his friendships with the society women who buzzed around him.At the end of World War II, after Elliott's death, Prince Aly Khan, son of the Aga Khan and one-time husband of Rita Hayworth, bought the house and kept the sophisticated entertainment going into the 1960s. Lovell devotes the final third of the book to the Prince's life, charting his evolution from a playboy to a distinguished United Nations ambassador.The book is a little slow at first, especially as it goes through the now-unfamiliar Elliott's early life, but as she moves onto a larger canvas, the story picks up. The section on Aly Khan moves much more quickly, providing an interesting end to the book.

I was disappointed in that it seemed to be mostly about Churchill and how everyone catered to him. I thought there would be more about a lot of society people. Too much repeated paragraphs about Churchill throughout the book. I have nothing against Churchill and thought of him as a wonderful man. There were only about 3 or 4 others mentioned in the book. I doubt I will be reading any more books written by Mary S. Lovell!

I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. It seemed repetitive and too focused on Maxine Elliott and Winston Churchill. Churchill was a fascinating and important character but her portrayal seemed superficial. I also would’ve liked to see more photos, e.g. of the interior of the homes and other characters. I was also a bit disappointed that she didn’t explore more about figures such as the Murphy’s, Hemingway’s and the ex-pat American & European artists who were in this part of the world. The chapters about what happened after Elliott’s death seemed like afterthoughts.

Incredibly boring. It was all build up to...nothing. Even the death of Maxine Elliott was anticlimactic. It is like watching the Real Housewives up the most boring neighborhood in America. Could not even finish the book

This is fascinating social history about the rise of a remarkable personality who glittered at the top of European society without being a sycophant. The opposite was the case: the authenticity and substance of Maxine Elliott made her and her chateau the star of a galaxy that shone most brightly on the Riviera. The proof was that with Elliott's passing, the chateau went into the high arc of celebrity and mediocrity before crashing to an ignoble end, itself a fascinating story about modern France and its degradation under the mediocrity of Arab wealth.

Lovell wrote a brilliant, in-put-downable book on the Churchills (and lots of other interesting,readable biography) , but it's hard to fathom where she is going with this. Much of it is rehash of the Churchill book and what isn't feels so familiar, it isn't very interesting. But if you haven't read her Churchill book I highly recommend it. If you are interested in the Riviera of the period try Selina Hastings fascinating book on Somerset Maugham, too.

KINDLE EDITION REVIEWThe only reason this has 3 stars is that I was very disapointed with how the publishers have treated the kindle edition. Whilst reading the book, I googled a lot of the people and places to see their images. When I reached about 65% through my Kindle edition, the book ended and there are a series of tiny photos which are totally separate from the txt and unreferenced in the index. I then thought to view it on my ipad - even worse - the shots are literally the size of a passport photo and very poorly reproduced. The book is fascinating - perhaps a little long in places, about Winston Churchill, but stilll an interesting bit of social history I knew nothing about - but the kindle price does not reflect the poor quality of the whole experience. I wish I'd waited for it in paperback.

This is a book of revelations. It purveys a sort of up-market gossip, exposing the underbelly of the lives of the famous of that era. Especially interesting were the enlightening insights into the character of Winston Churchill. He is revealed to have been an even more rounded individual than we see in the portrayals of him in biographies and modern history writings. It is a book I would read again if only I had the time.

A very good read overall, and a fascinating insight into a glamorous world that you can't help but be drawn to, and of course it makes you want to visit the Riviera immediately!It peaked for me after the first two thirds of the book which were truly brilliant (although I agree that certain parts of it felt like a compilation of excerpts from the author's previous books about Churchill, the Windsors and their contemporaries to give us the story of the central figure - the villa, and as such it didn't flow as well as it could have done in my opinion). After the end of the Second World War and the subsequent purchase of the villa by Aly Khan the book loses its way a little, owing probably to the fact that it is used far less than it was in its heyday under the ownership of Maxine who dominates the earlier part of the book.I would recommend it for anyone who is interested in recent history and the glamour which surrounded British aristocracy, European jet setters and the fledgling Hollywood elite who were infiltrating "old money". Especially interesting when set against both the depression and rationing of the First and Second World Wars, and a telling portrayal of how "celebrity" has changed between then and now.If I were to be very picky, there are a couple of inconsistencies (at one point the Reves' are not fans of Onassis, and a couple of pages later he is described as a "friend") and the editing is a little lazy but that doesn't effect the overall enjoyment of the book.

A beautiful book beautifully written. I am a huge fan of the art deco period, love the clothes and the fabulous architecture. Yes, I have been to Cannes and stayed in Le Cannet, the old part of the town. Seen the yachts in Antibes and seen where the grand Prix takes place in Monaco. It's just a shame that we can't see those wonderful sprawling chateaus anymore. I want to go back someday. You will enjoy this wonderful book.

This is the story of a House on the Riviera, how it was built, and the"beautiful" people who stayed there in its heyday, but it is also much much more. It is a fascinating tale of an American woman of relatively humble means who gate-crashed into English society, through a combination of talent, grit charm, accumulated wealth and determination. Despite the fact that so many of the characters seem to be wastrels, some of those guests she gathered under her roof, such as Churchill, were movers and shakers in society in the 1930s. Because of the huge social inequalities one wants to despise this hedonistic set, but I grew to quite like some of them. Their modern wealthy counterparts seem pale imitations in comparison to this uninhibited group, who overindulged in sex and drugs, and so much else. A guilty pleasure.

Fascinating and slightly repulsive at the same time. It reads ike a continuous gossip column about the glamorous, almost hedonistic lifestyle of the aristocracy of Europe and those who wished to be accepted into that circle. it provides a close-up running commentary of one of the most famous boltholes of the Riveira between the wars and after. The famous guests of the house included politicians, film stars, royalty - all the movers and shakers of the era. They partied like there was no other life outside their pampered, luxurious world. It tracks an almost unimaginably indulgent lifestyle for those of us who live in the real world of committed relationships, jobs, financial pressures, family loyalties.Nonetheless an enjoyable read

A brilliant author I have read all of her books and they are all meticulously researched and presented, very unputdownable once you begin.

I found this book to be an education! Certainly shows how the other half live. What hedonistic, shallow lives these people had. Many of these well known people led such selfish lives whilst the 'ordinary' salt of the earth folk suffered. There were, however, just a few bright shining stars in this book. It is a long read but I do recommend it and keep going right to the end where additional information is given.

Fascinating to read of the lives of royalty, aristocrats and stars of the early 20th century. Their extravagance was astonishing, and they certainly rivals today's rich. The press were equally intrusive, with them having to hide out in hotels. Was amazed how often Churchill travelled to the south of France on holiday, where he was so spoiled by his friends - not surprised Clementine stayed away as it was not to her taste.

This rather obsequious history gets more and more dreary towards the end. Lovell is entirely in awe of her subjects; particularly Churchill, the Windsor’s and Aly Khan and is entirely uncritical of their lifestyles at a moment or great political, economic and social upheaval. She is uneven in her assessment of the principle actors adopting a rather old fashioned and reactionary tone when judging them, and others. All in all somewhat, flimsy and fluffy; more Hello magazine than serious history.

I loved this book. Anyone with an interest in the area and the time between the wars will love it. Well written and detailed and the people fascinating, didn't want to finish it.

I enjoyed many sections of this book and it certainly does give an insight into the carefree and quite hedonistic lifestyle of the set who inhabited the lovely coastal homes! Eventually it got a bit repetitive and drawn out for me, and it can be difficult to keep track of the changing relationships! I would have loved more photos top look at alongside the text as so much of what is interesting is about the locations nd the houses.

Well researched and good social commentary on the gilded set who colonised the French Riviera in its heyday. It also highlighted the lives of the grandes dames who, with few exceptions, had to either marry, or become the mistresses of, wealthy and well-connected men to achieve real status. This is very different from our own times.The French Riviera of the book no longer exists of course, with many of the resorts trading on past glories and the ultra-glamorous set replaced by rather scruffily dressed mass tourism.

Thoroughly enjoyed and devoured this book. Absolutely fascinating. So many characters whose history I wasn't aware of. Despite having a kindle I bought this as a paperback and will go on to read more by this author in book form. Found myself constantly looking on the internet to check images of the people mentioned so I could get a better feel of them.

Although the book is moderately interesting I can't say I thoroughly enjoyed it. I found the characters rather dull, despite them being film stars, politicians, captains of industry and royalty. I don't think I'd recommend it.