The Hiltons: The True Story of an American Dynasty

While the many players and the long timeline of this family saga could potentially have been confusing, best-selling biographer Taraborrelli (After Camelot) has given the story clarity by focusing on a few key figures. Readers will appreciate the life story of hotel baron Conrad Hilton, with heavy emphasis on his relationship with glamorous Zsa Zsa Gabor and his son Nicky. Less attention is paid to his other two sons, Barron and Eric, and his daughter Francesca, and a final curtain call is given to Paris Hilton, which will satisfy those who may only recognize her name. Two things stand out in this rags-to-riches tale: the driven work ethic and astute business sense of the patriarch, and the glamour and opulence of a well-rewarded life. There is drama, surely—court cases and break-ups abound—but those that wonder how the Hilton hotel empire came to be will get their answer: hard work. The story is full of celebrities—including Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Collins, Debbie Reynolds, and Donald Trump—and it’s a paean to a bygone era that also contains a few nuggets on how best to conduct oneself en route to the high life. (Apr.)