This is such a good book. It is so interesting and it is written so well. I felt that there was too much written about the family and not enough about the hotel.

This was an incredibly detailed and well-researched trip through the colourful history of the D’Oyly Carte family, their businesses and their pioneering methods. The Savoy Hotel and the Savoy Theatre really were trailblazing and iconic structures and organisations, and have unsurprisingly attracted a plethora of famous fans from across the globe.

I did think the book was a little too detail-heavy and factual towards the end, which explains my 3 star review, but the author has covered a lot of interesting ground in this.

With thanks to NetGalley and Headline for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

Absolutely loved this book. An absorbing account of the lives of the D’Oyly Carte family and how they established the Savoy hotel (and others). Meticulously researched and engagingly recounted, it encouraged me to visit Coleton Fishacre, the gorgeous Art Deco Savoy family retreat - well worth a trip. The Savoy itself - I’ve never been, but after reading this book it’s on my list.

The Secret Life of the Savoy and the D'Oyly Carte family by Olivia Williams is the history of the Savoy hotel and the Savoy theatre, and the family that built this up.  

The D'Oyly family are the family that built both, and employed Gilbert and Sullivan to make shows for the theatre.  This is a well written book, with lots of information, and stories about the ups and downs for the Savoy.

 The Secret Life of the Savoy  was published on 10th June 2021 and is available from  Amazon ,  Waterstones  and  Bookshop.org .

You can follow Olivia Williams on  Twitter .

I was given this book in exchange for an unbiased review, so my thanks to NetGalley and to  Headline .

As soon as I read the words Savoy, and D'Oyly Carte, this was a no-brainer for a fan of musical theater like me. The story of the impresario behind GIlbert and Sullivan's topsy-turvy world and the fabled theatre that staged their meticulously staged operettas? Bound to be my favourite book! The book was all that, and more, and by the end, I was Google-ing room rate at the Savoy, to feel a connection with all that history. The first third of the book is a delightful exploration of the late 19th Century in London, through the experiences of the D'Oyly carte family. Richard D'Oyly Carte, the founder of the Savoy Theatre, was a workaholic with his finger in many different pies, nearly all successful. I loved the descriptions of how the Savoy Theatre, and the famous trio were formed, with enough detail on the lives of WS GIlbert and Arthur Sullivan as well, their influences and working styles. It's incredible to read of the genesis of those early musicals, that would so influence the genre. with their lyrical virtuosity and production scale. I thought my interest would flag once this bit was over, but Olivia WIlliams is such an excellent writer, she makes the hospitality industry so compelling. The Savoy Hotel was a pioneering hotel in many ways, and all the main players involved with setting it up, their decisions, and how they affected the hotel, are recounted so beautifully that you can't help but be deeply caught up in the fortunes of this storied hotel. Not just the guests, the staff, the chefs of the hotel were all celebrities in their won right and equal attention is paid to all of them. A book like this could have easily devolved into merely a listing of famous guests, or one anecdote after another without an overarching narrative, but WIlliams has such excellent control over her material, that a perfect balance is maintained. You never lose sight of all the enormous effort going on behind the scenes, to keep the institution running like clockwork and maintain its iconic facade. The book's clearly a labour of love, and her reference section lists out all the letters, diaries, archive clippings that she's used to give you an authentic account. Absolutely lovely book, recommended for fans of musical theatre, London, and just about anyone who wants to pick up a book and escape.

Fascinating and well researched, The Secret Life of The Savoy is a look back at the creator of The Savoy theatre and then The Savoy hotel. Richard D’Oylyl Carte, his family and the people they employed introduced so much of what we do now to everyday life in London, from comfortable theatres, luxury hotels with great restaurants and my favourite - Fairy Lights!!

A must read, it covers history, society, family, wars, politics and ambition.

I was given a copy of The Secret Life of The Savoy by NetGalley and the publishers in return for an honest review.

My thanks to Headline and NetGalley for a review copy of this book.
This absolutely fascinating and engrossing read is the story of the Savoy (theatre and hotel) but more so (as other reviews also mention) of the D’Oyly Carte family, three generations of which ran the two for over a century, each with their individual flair and tastes, but all with a business sense that was very different from the conventional. Their focus was their guests’ (never customers) enjoyment and comfort, and their own satisfaction rather than making money.

The book starts with the story of Richard Cart, father of Richard D’Oyly Carte, a poor but talented flautist who through his work and talent joined and became partner in a musical instrument business, Rudall, Carte and Co, giving his children a good start in life. Young Richard D’Oyly Carte, always interested in performing, joined his father’s business but his heart lay in theatre and he ran a casting company alongside (from a backroom) before moving on to it full time. After a wobbly start, and ups and downs (Oscar Wilde as a 26-year-old was also a client, with a lecture series in America organized for him by D’Oyly Carte), D’Oyly Carte saw success with Gilbert and Sullivan, a partnership that he pretty much brought together (or at least kept together). Able to achieve his dream of setting up the Savoy Theatre which was different from any other, both in its ambience (plush and opulent, ensuring every comfort that a guest would desire, with no hidden costs) to its offerings (light British Opera with lavish costumes and sets, the details of which were always carefully attended to), he worked with (and sometimes had to face animosity from) Gilbert and Sullivan to make his venture a success.

D’Oyly Carte’s experiences travelling abroad with his operas and other performers highlighted to him to dearth of quality hotels in his own country, and filling that gap soon also became a dream—one which he fulfilled by giving London the Savoy Hotel. Like for the theatre company, in setting up the hotel, D’Oyly Carte spared no expense, his philosophy of doing things to his satisfaction and things which customers would appreciate and be comfortable in taking precedence over profit. If this meant stocking the wine-cellars above paying dividends, then so be it. This was the philosophy that D’Oyly Carte’s son, Rupert (younger for Rupert’s older brother Lucas who trained as a barrister, died of consumption), and later his granddaughter Bridget (her brother too died young, in an accident in which he was not at fault) followed through their lives. The family had their share of tragedy, and the hotel (which expanded eventually to four hotels including Claridge’s) and theatre businesses saw their ups and downs and faced problems (legal wrangles were a constant), but things were always done the best, with attention to detail and no expense spared.

The D’Oyly Cartes may have been unconventional, even somewhat eccentric but they and their ventures gave us much—from Gilbert and Sullivan operas to ‘fairy lights’ (the term coming from the little bulbs used in fairy costumes in Iolanthe, the first public building to be fully lit by electricity to dishes like Peaches Melba and Melba toast created in honour of the singer Nellie Melba (one for when she was on a diet and the other when not), and much more. P.G. Wodehouse’s Psmith, his only character based on a real person, was most likely inspired by Lucas (although there is some confusion whether it was Rupert or Lucas that was the inspiration), and the inspiration for ‘007’ (the number and partly the character) also came from a guest at the Savoy.

The Savoy Hotel was marked by luxury and innovation; from having baths with running hot and cold water (something unheard of when it started); its own systems for generation of electricity and drawing water; innovative menus and food intended to entice people into dining out; to successful in-house bands and performances by George Gershwin, Frank Sinatra and Noel Coward (with live and recorded broadcasts accessible to all) among others. Its Laundry (a separate facility set up by Rupert) once again was equipped with the most modern facilities at the time (with an English country garden in its courtyard), and everything from mattresses to crests was made/embroidered in-house, while crockery and cutlery were made for them (including sets with motifs from Gilbert and Sullivan). Staff were well treated through the generations, loyalty to the family remaining high throughout, and turnover was fairly low.

The hotels (not just the Savoy but also the D’Oyly Carte’s other hotels, particularly Claridge’s) had the choicest guests from royalty to Hollywood stars (Edward VII to Queen Elizabeth II; Laurel and Hardy to Marilyn Monroe), politicians (Churchill among them), artists (like Monet and Whistler) and literary giants (like F. Scott Fitzgerald), for many of whom they served as a second home. Churchill conducted many of his meetings at the Savoy even during the war, while Claridge’s became his home after he lost power. (Williams’ mention of the combination of guests and pricing systems that D’Oyly Carte worked out reminded me a little of Agatha Christie’s Bertram’s Hotel; Christie herself was a guest at and hosted parties for her plays at the Savoy, but whether it was an inspiration I don’t really know).

The Secret Life of the Savoy is a really captivating account of the family and their ventures. Packed with anecdotes—events and happenings at the hotel (from the innocuous to the scandalous—Oscar Wilde’s case to a possible murder), we are taken through the lives of the three D’Oyly Cartes who ran the hotel and theatre company, looking at both the businesses and developments in their own lives (not without their trials either).

I especially loved Williams’ vivid descriptions in the book, whether it was of the lovely houses that different members of the family built for themselves—the one on D’Oyly Carte island in the Thames (where they even had a pet crocodile, and for which if I remember correctly the artist Whistler mixed up special colours) built by Richard D’Oyly Carte or Rupert’s hideway home in Pudcombe Cove between Brixam and Dartmouth (I wouldn’t have minded living in either house), with its gorgeous gardens—or the lavish parties thrown at the Savoy, among them a Gondolier-themed birthday party with the cake pulled in by a baby elephant or a winter-themed party with silver-tissue icebergs and fake snow.

This was an excellent read which kept me completely absorbed from cover to cover. Five stars to this one!

Beautifully written. In three generations, the D'Oyly Carte family pioneered the luxury hotel and the modern theatre, propelled Gilbert and Sullivan to lasting stardom, made Oscar Wilde a transatlantic celebrity, inspired a P. G. Wodehouse series, and popularised early jazz, electric lights and Art Deco. Interesting read.

This was a lovely book mainly focused on the D’Oyly Carte family with some brilliant insights in to the hsitory of the savoy.

I would say this is somewhat more focused on the family rather than the hotel than I thought it would be but that did not take away from the book.

I read this ARC for an honest review
All thoughts and opinions are mine4


Really enjoyed this and learned so much
Well written and researched

I found it fascinating

Elegantly Written...
A century of luxury in this detailed and interesting history of The Savoy Hotel and the family that made it complete with an engaging narrative and snippets and snapshots of historic interest. A well drawn,well researched and elegantly written account.

This should be called ‘ The D’Oyly Carte family and the Secret Life Of The Savoy’ and not the other way around
If you have interest in the D’Oyly Carte family and want every last detail about them then this is the book for you
If you want an expose of the Savoy and all that went on over the years then it could be for you but be aware that a good percentage of the book deals with the family and it’s theatre/opera business
There is no doubting it is a fascinating read but by the end I had had enough of the family and wanted more on the Savoy
The parts on the Savoy are however wonderful, the excess, the detail and the planning to make it London’s top hotel beggar belief and the tales of the staff and guests when featured are amazing and wonderfully told, I just wanted it to carry on though and was surprised by the abrupt end to these stories around the late 60’s as the families influence became less and less and there is pretty much nothing about the hotel from the 70’s onwards, in fact the book just finishes and I did check to make sure some wasn’t missing
It did make me yearn to have seen it though back in the early days and also to experience London then, of course a very one sided view of London
It’s detailed and informative and you will learn much about the family that created it, if that is your interest

7/10
3.5 Stars