Bobbed Hair and Bathtub Gin: Writers Running Wild in the Twenties
3 journalers for this copy...
I got this softcover at a local thrift shop. It's an intriguing biography/historical snapshot of the intersecting lives and works of Zelda Fitzgerald, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Dorothy Parker, and Edna Ferber, along with many other authors, editors, lovers, and others. It covers the decade from 1920 through 1930, including Prohibition, the stock-market crash, and the between-the-wars societal and cultural upheavals, and features LOTS of surprising (to me, anyway) tidbits about the private lives of the central characters. (I had no idea that Edna St. Vincent Millay - called "Vincent" by her friends - was such a libertine {wry grin}.) Of the central figures, I'd read the most about Dorothy Parker, whose sharp wit contrasted with a troubled life. I knew of Zelda Fitzgerald's own emotional problems, but hadn't known of her obsessive dedication to ballet lessons (sadly, starting too late in life for true proficiency, though it sounds as if she did pretty well under the circumstances). Edna Ferber's work I knew of from the films of her theatrical success, "Showboat" being among them; here, her personal ups and downs contrasted with the lifestyles of the others, and again often surprised me.
All in all, I found this a really intriguing peek at life among the literati of 1920s New York, with aspects both tragic and triumphant.
All in all, I found this a really intriguing peek at life among the literati of 1920s New York, with aspects both tragic and triumphant.
I'm sending this to BCer kaila-ann as part of the US/Canada wishlist-tag game. Enjoy!
*** Released for the 2019 Tick Tock release challenge. ***
*** Released for the 2019 Tick Tock release challenge. ***
This book made it safe and sound to SC - thanks for sharing it with me!
Reserved for the wishlist tag game.
I didn’t know much about these women going into the book (Zelda Fitzgerald, Dottie Parker, Edna Vincent St. Millay and Edna Ferber) bit come away amazed by their lives and careers. The book covers each year from 1920-1930 and some of what was going on in each of their lives during that time. While they each suffered their own heartbreaks, my heart especially broke for Zelda. I will definitely be reading more on her.
Journal Entry 6 by kaila-ann at -- By post or by hand --, South Carolina USA on Saturday, December 7, 2019
Released 4 yrs ago (12/2/2019 UTC) at -- By post or by hand --, South Carolina USA
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Sent as part of the wishlist tag game - enjoy!
Thanks for the extra wish list book! It's one of my oldest wishes. I know a little about Zelda Fitzgerald and Dorothy Parker, but nothing about Edna St. Vincent Millay or Edna Ferber. It looks very interesting.