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Alva Vanderbilt: life of the week
Nancy Unger introduces Alva Vanderbilt, the woman most often regarded as the inspiration for the character of Bertha Russell in Julian Fellowes's drama The Gilded Age
- Elinor Evans
Published: September 16, 2025 at 8:00 AM
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Climbing to the top of Gilded Age society in 19th-century America, socialite Alva Vanderbilt made headlines for being one of the first elite women to divorce on her terms, and she later turned her ambition – and considerable fortune – to the fight for women’s rights. In today's episode, Nancy Unger tells Elinor Evans about a woman who upended the highest echelons of society, caused scandal and heartache, but ultimately blazed a path from strategic social climber to outspoken suffragist.
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Authors
Elinor EvansHead of digital (web and video)
Elinor Evans is head of digital (web and video)
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