Baroness of Hobcaw: The Life of Belle W. Baruch

Baroness of Hobcaw: The Life of Belle W. Baruch by Miller, Mary E.. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9781570036552.

The riveting biography of an heiress, equestrienne, spy-hunter, and patron of ecology Belle W. Baruch (1899-1964) could outride, outshoot, outhunt, and outsail most of the young men of her elite social circle―abilities that distanced her from other debutantes of 1917. Unapologetic for her athleticism and interests in traditionally masculine pursuits, Baruch towered above male and female counterparts in height and daring. While she is known today for the wildlife conservation and biological research center on the South Carolina coast that bears her family name, Belles story is a rich narrative about one nonconformists ties to the land. In Baroness of Hobcaw, Mary E. Miller provides a provocative portrait of this unorthodox woman who gave a gift of monumental importance to the scientific community. Belles father, Bernard M. Baruch, the so-called Wolf of Wall Street, held sway over the financial and diplomatic world of the early twentieth century and served as an adviser to seven U.S. presidents. In 1905 he bought Hobcaw Barony, a sprawling seaside retreat where he entertained the likes of Churchill and FDR. Belles daily life at Hobcaw reflects the world of wealthy northerners, including the Vanderbilts and Luces, who bought tracts of southern acreage. Miller details Belles exploits―fox hunting at Hobcaw, show jumping at Deauville, flying her own plane, traveling with Edith Bolling Wilson, and patrolling the South Carolina beach for spies during World War II. Belles story also reveals her efforts to win her mothers approval and her fathers attention, as well as her unraveling relationships with friends, family, employees, and lovers―both male and female. Miller describes Belles final success in saving Hobcaw from development as the overarching triumph of a tempestuous life.