Nancy Unger

Nancy Unger, Professor Emerita of American History and an expert on Alva Vanderbilt, shares insights into the life of the ambitious socialite who revolutionized 19th-century society. Unger discusses Alva's strategic rise in the elite world, her groundbreaking divorce that challenged norms, and her fierce advocacy for women's rights. She highlights the lavish parties and high society ambitions that defined Alva, alongside the personal struggles that shaped her legacy as both a social climber and a suffragist.