[SnoJohn]

Surprised the author did not mention Louis Auchincloss, who is the obvious template for the excellent Diaz book. Auchincloss was fascinated by what money did to the wealthy class of his time. The Great World and Timothy Colt, The House of Five Talents (fiction but about the Vanderbilts) and many others focus on what happens to the person who makes the money and what they ultimately leave behind.

It was common for Auchincloss to use diaries, news stories, and personal narration from people around the subject to provide perspective. The Rector of Justin has six narrators. This seems to be most useful at piercing the many layers that form around wealth, and how the individuals often lose themselves. Citizen Kane would be the film example of this.

Auchincloss was also a great short story writer. Tales of Manhattan is a great way to get into his subtle, but deeply perceptive writing about New York's old world of finance, law and art worlds.