"The Last Castle" is a non-fiction book by Denise Kiernan, first published in 2017. The book tells the story of the Biltmore Estate, a grand mansion built by George Vanderbilt in Asheville, North Carolina in the late 1800s.
The book explores the history of the Vanderbilt family and their creation of the Biltmore Estate, which remains the largest private residence in the United States. Kiernan delves into the architecture and design of the estate, as well as the daily lives of the Vanderbilt family and their servants.
The book also touches on broader themes such as the Gilded Age, the rise of industrialization, and the changing social and economic landscape of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Kiernan examines the ways in which the Vanderbilt family represented the excesses and inequalities of their time, while also contributing to the cultural and economic development of the region.
"The Last Castle" was well-received by critics upon its publication, and has been praised for its engaging storytelling, rich historical detail, and thoughtful analysis of the social and cultural context of the Biltmore Estate. The book has been compared to other works of popular history, such as "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson and "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" by Rebecca Skloot.
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