From the grand majesty of the Breakers to the beautiful proportions of Rosecliff, these houses are enduring reminders of the architectural flowering of the Gilded Age.
Where the salty air mingles with the far-off laughter of women in ball gowns, the houses of the Newport Cliff Walk preside in grandeur over the crashing waves below. Walking along the paved trail, it's easy to imagine the faintest hint of a waltz coming from the windows of Beechwood, or to envision the Duchess of Windsor's carriage arriving for a visit at Fairholme. Ed Morris takes you on a tour of twenty-four historic mansions and landmarks, entertaining along the way with tales of splendor and style, social maneuvering and matchmaking.
Ed Morris is a veteran reporter for two Connecticut newspapers and was a correspondent for the United Press International's Berlin Bureau just before the construction of the Berlin Wall by Communist East Germany. In developing this book as a basis for the Newport Historical Society's guided tours of the Cliff Walk, he has made extensive use of the society's research facilities, printed reports and many other sources, but the responsibility for the material contained herein is his own. A graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut, he has also served as a tour guide in a number of the Preservation Society of Newport County's mansions for several years.