Once the epitome of soigné worldly glamour, the words “jet set” conjure images of exotic global destinations and golden beaches; clandestine rendezvous on opulent yachts; star-studded parties in palatial mansions, the women in couture gowns and glittering jewels, the men in debonair tuxedos. The people of the jet set were the last vestiges of a leisured and cultivated age, a world of taste and culture, elegance and beauty.

Swans: Legends of the Jet Society captures the spirit of this world, in which today’s technology was the stuff of science fiction, when foreign travel was the preserve of a privileged cosmopolitan few. From bygone aristocracy to modern mega-wealthy moguls, this stunning volume regales with escapades of travel, money, sex, and adventure. These are the legends of the jet set—tales of glamour, excitement, and exclusivity.

British historian, author, and journalist Nicholas Foulkes is cofounder and editor in chief of Finch’s Quarterly Review, luxury editor of British GQ, and contributing editor to Financial Times’s How to spend it and Vanity Fair. His other books for Assouline include High Society: The history of America’s Upper Class (2008), Bals: Legendary Costume Balls of the Twentieth Century (2011), and Nardi (2012).