Opened in 1889, London's famed Savoy Hotel pioneered the notion of a luxury hotel, setting a benchmark for unparalleled service, extravagant amenities (in 1905, the courtyard was flooded for a Venetian-themed "gondola party" for a guest's birthday), elegant dining, and top-notch entertainment. This captivating biography explores three generations of the secretive D'Oyly Carte family, who opened the hotel upon the success of their Savoy Theater, which launched Gilbert and Sullivan into international stardom. Through more than a hundred years, two world wars, countless scandals, and at least one murder, the Savoy has hosted hundreds of international bigwigs, including Edward VII, Oscar Wilde, Charlie Chaplin, Lena Horne, Marilyn Monroe, the Beatles, and Winston Churchill…and this cultural history of the landmark building and the people behind it is just as entertaining as you'd expect!