The Silver Swan

In The Silver Swan, Sallie Bingham explores the complex and largely underexamined life of Doris Duke, a woman who navigated fame, wealth, and personal reinvention throughout the 20th century. With access to Duke’s extensive personal papers, Bingham uncovers a multifaceted individual who defied societal expectations, revealing facets of her life as a pioneering war correspondent, environmentalist, collector, and philanthropist. The biography offers a nuanced portrait of a woman whose intriguing life story extends far beyond tabloid headlines.