Sound Bite
What ever became of the aristocracy? The top families in France, as elsewhere, can afford seclusion if they choose it and we rarely if ever catch a glimpse of them. How do the nouveaux riches infiltrate the older families?In this seminal research work two prominent Parisian sociologists trace the wealthiest and most established families, interviewing individuals and visiting them at home in town and country, disclosing where they send their children to school and where they shop, work, and socialize. In the course of the study they relate conversations regarding decisions on whom to marry and how those in the upper crust view the succession of generations and their place in the tapestry.
About the Book
Going back for generations, the fortunes of great families consist of far more than money; they are also symbols of culture and social interaction. They are at the heart of dense family and extra-family networks, of international coalitions and divisions. The authors elucidate the mechanisms by which they accumulate and expand their wealth, status and influence even while staying out of the public eye. Paradoxically there is a quasi-collective nature to these private fortunes, as families enjoy sojourns at each other's estates, help each other weather difficult times, and intermarry.
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