Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Empty Mansions: A Matter of Choice and "Will"

Huguette Clark lived her long life the way she wanted, never according to convention or expectation, and not at the command of others. Whether she was in some way controlled in her latter years by her caretakers is a matter of discussion as well as legal settlement. While readers may be perplexed by her choices, Huguette seemed to have successfully navigated a world she deliberately isolated herself from, acquiring the collections that fascinated her, giving lavish gifts to those she trusted, and turning her back on her great wealth to live a circumscribed life, not of luxury, but of remarkable simplicity. To learn more about Huguette Clark, her upbringing, and the book Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr.,  please refer to this website: http://www.emptymansionsbook.com/.