Inventing Elsa Maxwell: How an Irrepressible Nobody Conquered High Society, Hollywood, the Press, and the World

Description

The sun never sets on Elsa Maxwell -- The Duchess of Keokuk -- An oasis of civilization in the California desert -- Where were you at 5:13 a.m. on Wednesday, April 18, 1906? -- Now Voyager, sail thou forth -- Send me a tenor -- I've written a letter to mother -- Dickie -- A night at the suffragist opera -- Fifty million Frenchmen -- A perfect blendship -- A funny thing happened on the way to Versailles -- A footnote as big as the Ritz -- I love the nightlife -- Jean, Joy, and Noël -- Noblesse oblige -- Everything's coming up Elsa -- The guilty party -- We open in Venice -- Sunrise at Monte Carlo -- The rotunda of generous matrons -- How to become a movie star at fifty-five -- Upstaged by her own underwear -- When in doubt, give a party -- Put the blame on Elsa -- Enigma variations -- And say hello to my niece, Princess Margaret -- The Isles of Greece -- One God, one Callas -- Snakes on a plane -- Rome trembled -- "Jack's guests tonight are-- " -- Cocktails and laughter, but what comes after? -- When death occurs -- Renewer of hearts -- Dickie revisited -- Elsa's kingdom.;Chronicles the life and career of Elsa Maxwell, who was an actress, socialite and the queen of party giving.