The Fabulous Bouvier Sisters. The Tragic and Glamorous Lives of Jackie and Lee by Sam Kashner and Nancy Schoenberger

Gore Vidal once said about Jackie and Lee Bouvier that they ‘were brought up like geishas, to get money out of men’.  This book is fair, but, unfortunately, both sisters do appear to have been rather mercenary, according to the writer. Lees, for example, Lee wanted to live well beyond the means that her first husband could provide. (There were other worse problems in the marriage, however). Jackie allegedly sold second-hand clothes to get extra money when she was married to Onassis.

Kashner and Schoenberger tell an account of the cultured sister’s fierce rivalry – even over Ari Onassis - and fascinating lives which anyone interested in the Kennedys will enjoy.  He also provides a lot of strange anecdotes, such as how someone thought that Lee was actually Jackie because she looked so like her when she visited her when she was dying – even being dressed like her!  I also found the opinion of one of the “friends” that Jackie chose some of her husband’s mistresses odd. Jackie set such a wonderful example at her husband's funeral, though, that my opinion is that this makes up for any flaws in her character!

It’s a gossipy book, but the writer does give the sisters credit for their career achievements, describing Jackie’s work as an editor and Lee’s luxurious interior design business. It’s a good character study and an interesting glimpse into the era. It was a good read, but the writing was a bit staid.

I received this free ebook from Edelweis in return for an honest review.