Dr. Elliot Engel's 'Vanderbilts' Delves Into the Lives of One of the Riches Families in US History

Vanderbilt family patriarch, Cornelius "Commodore" Vanderbilt, overcame meager beginnings to build one of the greatest business empires in US history. His descendants, a cadre of eccentric characters, built palatial mansions and threw opulent parties that would put Gatsby to shame. In his lecture, The Vanderbilts, Dr. Elliot Engel will shed light on how this once working-class family became the kings of the Gilded Age.

Using light-hearted wit and indomitable wisdom, Dr. Engel will trace the amazing tale of the Vanderbilt dynasty from the 18th century to present day—delving into the lives of such famous family members as George Washington Vanderbilt II, whose 250-room mansion, Biltmore Estate, served as his family's "country home"; socialite and fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt, known for elevating blue jeans from work clothes to high fashion; and Gloria's son, reporter and news anchor Anderson Cooper. The tale of the Vanderbilt family not only emerges as a story of riches and excess, but of triumph, tragedy and real, raw, emotional lives.

“Any fool can make a fortune; it takes a man of brains to hold onto it.” 

— Cornelius "Commodore" Vanderbilt, Fortune’s Children: The Fall of the House of Vanderbilt

Piedmont Arts will present Dr. Elliot Engel's The Vanderbilts on Tuesday, September 23 at 7:30 pm at the museum, located at 215 Starling Ave, Martinsville. A pre-talk dinner with Dr. Engel, featuring a catered meal inspired by the menu at Biltmore Estate, will begin at 6:30 pm. Tickets are $15 for the lecture only and $30 for dinner and the lecture. Tickets for the pre-talk dinner must be purchased in advance. Tickets are available at Piedmont Arts or online here.

About Dr. Elliot Engel

Originally from Indianapolis, Indiana, Dr. Engel now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he has taught at the University of North Carolina, North Carolina State University and Duke University. He earned his M.A. and Ph.D. as a Woodrow Wilson Fellow at UCLA. While at UCLA he won that university’s Outstanding Teacher Award.

Dr. Engel has written ten books published in England, Japan and the United States. His mini-lecture series on Charles Dickens ran on PBS television stations around the country. His articles have appeared in numerous newspapers and national magazines including Newsweek. He has lectured throughout the United States and on all the continents including Antarctica.