Adventures with Old Houses
Scratch the surface of any self-respecting retired multimillionaire and chances are, there's a second, even third career underneath. In Jenrette's case, the former executive of a well-known Wall Street investment firm started collecting and restoring historic U.S. homes some three decades ago. All half-dozen--and his fascination with preservation--are documented in sharp detail. How did it start? It was a combination ofGone with the Wind, a southern childhood, and an instinct for the authentic antique. There are stories galore about early college influences, the first house (Gore Vidal's home on the Hudson), the one that got away (the Vanderbilt mansion on Sutton Place), and the accumulation of five other mansions from North Carolina to St. Croix. The second half is any decorator's dream: glorious color photographs of and sumptuous narratives about his homes and his devotion to historic preservation. A foreword by Prince Charles cinches Jenrette's dedication to the cause.Barbara Jacobs