The Second Mrs. Astor: A Heartbreaking Historical Novel of the Titanic

The Second Mrs. Astor: A Novel of the Titanic is adult historical fiction written by New York Times bestselling author Shana Abé and published in 2021 by Kensington. The novel recounts the love affair of Madeleine Talmage Force and John Jacob Astor IV, one of the wealthiest men in America. Seventeen-year-old Madeleine endures fierce public scrutiny for her courtship and subsequent marriage to the divorced and much older Astor, but after she survives the sinking of the Titanic and he does not, Madeleine, pregnant and widowed in New York, tells their story so her young son might know the truth about his father and their love.

This guide refers to the 2021 paperback edition.

Plot Summary

Madeleine Force, daughter of a wealthy New York businessman, first sees Colonel John Jacob Astor on the beach when she is 13 years old. When she is 17, she catches his eye during the round of summer festivities in Bar Harbor, Maine. Madeleine is intelligent and mature for her age, and the Colonel is divorced, attractive, and attentive. As he courts her with picnics, flowers, and weekends at his summer cottage, a compelling understanding grows between them. But, as Madeleine learns, being courted by one of the richest, most admired, most important men in the United States comes with the cost of camera bulbs popping at every conversation and public scrutiny on her every move.

Madeleine will endure it for Jack. But when they marry, shortly after she turns 18, she finds that New York high society won’t stand for a match that is so different in age and family standing. Feeling lonely in their enormous Fifth Avenue mansion and alienated by everyone but her friend Margaret Brown, Madeleine persuades Jack to join Margaret and her daughter on a trip to Egypt. They begin in Paris, where Madeleine realizes her feeling poorly is due to pregnancy. Floating up and down the Nile on their luxurious boat is a hazy dream of escape for Madeleine, marked only by the brief disappearance of their beloved dog, Kitty.

Madeleine is not overly thrilled about returning to first-class life and public attention on the maiden voyage of the magnificent Titanic. Over-bred New York matrons condescend to her; up-and-coming social climbers think they know her and are overly friendly. But Madeleine’s other problems disappear the night of April 14, 1912, when the unsinkable ship hits an iceberg and goes down. Separated from Jack when she is granted a place in a lifeboat and he isn’t, Madeleine is among those rescued by the steamer Carpathia, which she searches for Jack every night until the steamer returns to New York City.

Once returned to New York, Madeleine finds that being a pregnant widow at 18 has made her the world’s darling. She presides over Jack’s funeral and hosts a genteel luncheon of survivors to thank the captain of the Carpathia. When she gives birth to Jakey, John Jacob Astor VI, she treasures the boy as the spark that grew from her true love with Jack.