After years of avoiding it personally, CNN's Anderson Cooper explores in a book the complicated legacy of the Vanderbilt family — what he calls America's version of “The Crown."

One year after Gloria Vanderbilt died following a cancer diagnosis, Cooper took to Instagram to pay tribute to her. "My mom wanted to see and hear and feel everything... and that is exactly what she did. "Gloria Vanderbilt died as she lived -- on her own terms. What an extraordinary mom. RELATED CONTENT:Anderson Cooper Says He Told His Mom He Was Having a Baby Shortly Before She DiedAnderson Cooper's Late Mom Gloria Vanderbilt 'Of Course' Wanted Him to Have KidsGloria Vanderbilt's Will Has Anderson Cooper Getting Bulk of Fortune