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Treasured Island: The Story of St. Barth . . . and Its Barbarians, Billionaires, and Beauties
Author(s): Michael Gross (Author)
- Publisher: Harper
- Publication Date: June 16 2026
- Language: English
- Print length: 416 pages
- ISBN-10: 0063410966
- ISBN-13: 9780063410961
Book Description
“A smart page turner that reminds us paradise isn’t always what it appears to be.” ⎯ Town & Country
A hugely entertaining social history of the elite and exclusive Caribbean island of St. Barthélemy from the New York Times bestselling author of Model and 740 Park.
St. Barthelemy is revered for its luxury, its stunning beaches and its VIP fans. Those who’ve either been there or hope to go, know St. Bart’s—or St. Barth, depending on your level of Francophilia—as the place for the beautiful people, the ultimate see-and-be-seen scene.
Over three decades, acclaimed social chronicler Michael Gross has taken dozens of extended trips to this gorgeous, sultry paradise and knows it almost as a local. In his captivating and detailed history, this “premier chronicler of the rich” (Gay Talese) reveals how the island grew from a barren volcanic island with sometimes in-bred, impoverished residents and no creature comforts to an elite port of call where entertainment, tech, and fashion celebrities, old money, nouveau riche, and international oligarchs vie for tables in chic, expensive restaurants; where pristine beaches, superyachts, and spectacular hotels and lavish private villas are playgrounds for the American, European, and Asian upper class. And some locals have gotten rich off them all.
This is an enticing and entertaining work that combines impeccable reporting and delicious commentary. It is essential reading for everybody who is anybody—or wants to be.
Editorial Reviews
Review
“In this social history of the island, the people who live there, and the people who invade it, Michael Gross explains with his singular style how a small volcanic island became a hub for oligarchs, old money, and no small number of aspirational ne’er-do-wells. A smart page turner that reminds us paradise isn’t always what it appears to be.” ⎯ Town & Country
“An expansive history of wealth and place marked by deep research .” ⎯ Kirkus Reviews
“A lavish . . . history of luxury getaway St. Barthélemy.” ⎯ Publishers Weekly
“Readers who love both travel to luxurious tropical destinations and learning about the lives of people who live there, this new book is for you.” ⎯ Global Traveler
“When it comes to mapping wealth and place, there are few writers who go as deep or as far as Michael Gross. Gross doesn’t content himself with describing the world of money; he climbs inside it, asks the questions nobody else thinks (or dares) to ask, and comes back having turned over every stone . . . . I couldn’t put the book down from the very beginning.” ⎯ Alicia Pestalozzi, Palmer: The Palm Beach Reader
“Late-stage hi-capitalist Jet Set must-read.” ⎯ William Norwich, author, editor, journalist
“Hack(s) through the hype and half-truths. . . . A work of impressive reporting. . . . Mr. Gross tells an engaging story.” – Cathy Horn, New York Times, on Genuine Authentic
“Shamelessly dishy . . . delightfully attuned to irony, and Lauren’s life story is full of it.” – Washington Post on Genuine Authentic
“A sympathetic portrait . . . Gross does a fine job of revealing how the illusion of heritage and luxury, cultivated through lavish runway shows and advertising campaigns, sustains what is essentially a licensing business.” – Booth Moore, Los Angeles Times, on Genuine Authentic
“Sprawling . . . energetic . . . Gross has obviously thought deeply about the machinations and meaning of the modeling business.” – People on Model
“A page–turning exposé.” – Vogue on Model
About the Author
Michael Gross is the New York Times bestselling author of Model: The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women; 740 Park: The Story of the World’s Richest Apartment Building; and House of Outrageous Fortune: Fifteen Central Park West, the World’s Most Powerful Address. He is the editor-at-large of Palmer: The Palm Beach Reader, and has written for publications around the world, including the New York Times, New York, GQ, Esquire, Vanity Fair, Air Mail and The Daily Beast. He lives in New York City
(mgross.com)
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