Paris, lost Gilded Age mansions & a little birthday gift

Hello lovely fellow Gilded Age obsessives,

I wanted to write to you personally and share a little of what’s coming up this month here on Gilded Heiresses — and where in the world I happen to be while writing it.

Every Sunday, I’ve been sharing something very close to my heart: never-before-seen letters, photos, diary entries and journals from Alberta Sturges — our American heiress, and the ninth Countess of Sandwich. These are letters that have sat quietly in the archive for over a century, and each one opens a new window into her inner life, her friendships, her faith, and her world.

Tomorrow’s post for paid subscribers is one I’m especially excited about. It’s all about the lost mansions of the Gilded Age — including Alberta’s own family home in downtown Chicago. Wait until you see this monster of a house. It’s jaw-dropping, extravagant, and completely vanished. I’ll also be sharing several other extraordinary Gilded Age mansions that were demolished.

Then on Monday, paid subscribers get early access (every other week) to our Gilded Heiresses vlog. Two weeks ago, I narrated video footage tied to a subject of the great age of steamships — and, inevitably, the sinking of the Titanic. It’s reflective, visual, and very much about movement, ambition, and loss.

On Tuesday, I’m off to Paris. Once again, I’ll be retracing Alberta’s steps as a young woman, guided by her diaries, which are filled with the most vivid descriptions of her years there. Walking those same streets with her words in mind is always deeply moving — and I’d love for you to experience that journey alongside me.

I’m writing this from Italy, which feels especially fitting. Alberta was extraordinarily well travelled, and she spent her honeymoon with George in Venice. She returned many times — writing with equal passion about Venice, Florence, and Rome. Her sense of place, of beauty, and of emotional memory is something I think about often when I’m here.

And one last, slightly personal note.

My birthday is on 17 February, and this year it coincides with the Lunar New Year — the Year of the Fire Horse. This only happens every 60 years, and it’s associated with independence, courage, creativity, and bold forward motion. That feels… rather right.

So, as a little birthday gift from me to you, I’d love to offer 20% off an annual membership if you’d like to step inside the paid circle of Gilded Heiresses.

Paid members receive:
– twice-weekly articles (one deep dive into Alberta and her world, and one broader Gilded Age piece),
– exclusive letters from the archive,
– early-access vlogs and narrated videos,
– behind-the-scenes research and archiving insights,
– and a wonderfully thoughtful community of fellow Gilded Age obsessives.

If that sounds like something you’d enjoy, you can use the code HAPPYBIRTHDAY for 20% off an annual subscription — valid from now until 17 February.

However you choose to be here, thank you for reading, for being curious, and for caring about these stories. There’s so much more to come this month, and I’m very glad you’re part of it.

With love from Italy (and soon Paris),

xxJulie

A small birthday gift from me to you — 20% off an annual membership.