The Real-Life Socialite Who Inspired ‘The Gilded Age’s Bertha Russell
The Big Picture The Gilded Age blends reality and fiction with most events and characters inspired by history but changed slightly. Bertha Russell is heavily based on Alva Vanderbilt, showing similarities in ambition and societal struggles. Bertha and Gladys also share parallels with Alva and her own daughter Consuelo, as Alva pushed Consuelo to marry … Read more