Blithely flinging aside the Victorian manners that kept her disapproving mother corseted, the New Woman of the 1920s puffed cigarettes, snuck gin, ...
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Feb 01, 2009
Bells
rated it: 
Quick read on an amazing era... What an effect these rebel women had on things! Advertisements, movies, music, sports and women's rights were all touched by the "Flapper Age." Thank you, ballsy women, for getting us out of corsets and allowing us to enjoy a drink if we choose. Damn you, Flappers, for putting the focus on appearances.
This book had too much information on Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. It was interesting, but I won't be revisiting The Great Gatsby anytime More...
This book had too much information on Zelda and F. Scott Fitzgerald. It was interesting, but I won't be revisiting The Great Gatsby anytime More...
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Jul 17, 2011
Dixie Diamond
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I thought this was a load of fun, and I thought it brought up some interesting points that don't always come up when reading about life in the Twenties (such as the question of miserable wages for women and minorities even as ready-made clothes became available and standards of living improved), but from the perspective of the Twenties aficionado and armchair historian, I would have liked more depth.
My two minor complaints were that--and this is mostly a matter of taste--I wanted a l More...
My two minor complaints were that--and this is mostly a matter of taste--I wanted a l More...
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Mar 30, 2008
Kristen
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Joshua Zeitz has the reader walk a mile in the satin dancing slippers of these revolutionaries. Zelda Fitzgerald disobeyed her Lie-Still-and-Think-of-the-Empire Victorian mother, and her husband Scott made her a trend-setter. Lois Long (a.k.a. “Lipstick”) held New Yorkers in thrall. Coco Chanel made clothes that made women stronger. Clara Bow and Louise Brooks cast a spell on the country’s new crop of working women with their own money to spend.
Zeitz paints a picture as compelling as More...
Zeitz paints a picture as compelling as More...
Apr 01, 2008
Kristi
rated it:
A fairly informative read and a pretty good view of the big societal shake-up that happened from the late 1800's to the late 1920's.
I've always had a huge crush on the Jazz Age anyway, from Dorothy Parker to F. Scott Fitgerald and all the shenanigans and acerbic wit (would that I could have eavesdropped on the Algonquin Round Table), from fashions to music to design, but it was interesting to read how the monumental cultural changes actually came about. Perhaps it's just me, but I f More...
I've always had a huge crush on the Jazz Age anyway, from Dorothy Parker to F. Scott Fitgerald and all the shenanigans and acerbic wit (would that I could have eavesdropped on the Algonquin Round Table), from fashions to music to design, but it was interesting to read how the monumental cultural changes actually came about. Perhaps it's just me, but I f More...
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Dec 11, 2007
Kirk
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An enjoyable though not necessarily deep book. I came to it looking for something new about Zelda Fitzgerald and really found nothing I hadn't already heard a dozen times before. In fact, it says something about Zeitz's awareness of critical histories of the 20s that he cites Sara Mayfield's EXILES FROM PARADISE, a book generally viewed as a hatchet job on Scott Fitzgerald. That said, FLAPPER has some good pictures and interesting factoids. Ultimately, it's an example of how nonfiction books aim
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Dec 04, 2011
Mitch
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I have been really into reading historical non-fiction books as of late. I am sort of making my way into the early 20th century. I started with "Devil in the White City" which takes place at and before the Chicago World's Fair in the 1890's, moved to "Sin in the Second City" about turn of the century prostitution, and now here comes the Jazz Age in full swing in the 1920's with Joshua Zeitz's "Flapper". And of all three of these historical books, "Flapper"
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Jan 25, 2012
Eva
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I have always found the 1920's an intriguing time period in American history, and this book touched on many of the topics I am most interested in- silent film stars, the advertising industry, development of ready-made fashion and consumer culture, Zelda & F. Scott Fitzgerald, and the role of technology and media in shaping how women viewed themselves as objects, all of which were themes that defined the 20's. The author has obviously done a lot of research, and the chapters read great as stand-a
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Dec 13, 2011
Shelley
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Seriously fascinating look at flappers and the 20s through three lenses: books (Fitzgeralds, largely), clothing (Chanel and Madison Ave ad men) and Hollywood (Clara Bow, Colleen Moore and Louise Brooks, mostly). The sheer amount the 20s has in common with now is staggering, down to the ads.
I made so many little notes to refer back to that I don't want to type them all up. LOL Highlights of what I found interesting: this was the first generation of small families that allowed for tee More...
I made so many little notes to refer back to that I don't want to type them all up. LOL Highlights of what I found interesting: this was the first generation of small families that allowed for tee More...
Jan 23, 2011
Ally
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For me Zeitz has managed to strike the right balance between academic history and journalistic style making this a very entertaining read with just the right amount of substance. The main 'characters' - The Fitzgeralds, Lois Long, Clara Bow etc - were brought to life again and act as a focus to tell the story of a new 'modern' generation. I was disappointed however that the story did not play out as I had imagined it to. These were not pioneers of feminism but very confused women. The hedonism a
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Jan 18, 2009
Nancy
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A fun history of the women that fought against Victorian sensibilities and freed us from corsets and fought to get us the vote, jobs and birth control. This book discusses the movers and shakers of the flapper phenomena, Lois "Lipstick" Long, Zelda Fitzgerald, Clara Bow, Colleen Moore, Louise Brooks and Coco Chanel. These women were mavericks but had their demons as well. Lois Long wrote racist remarks in some of her columns and came to work black and blue after her marriage to Peter A
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May 02, 2011
Allison
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This book should probably be renamed "Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the ADVERTISERS who made America modern" because "the flapper" was, if anything, the first example of the mass marketing trend cycles that define our entire society today. Overall, the history lesson from this book was entertaining...also sad to see how we have been bought and sold a million times over. I really did love that at the end he wrapped the whole thing up by telling us where
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Dec 07, 2010
I only began this book and reached page 60 at most. It got tiring, and while the author's ideas were definitely interesting and probably true, I didn't feel like they were that important or compelling. I was reading it partially for my own questions/interest in the 1920s and part because I'm doing a project on American culture in this decade...but found it wasn't a good read for either purpose.
Side note: don't really enjoy studying the 20s AT ALL anymore. I just don't feel like there's that More...
Side note: don't really enjoy studying the 20s AT ALL anymore. I just don't feel like there's that More...
Aug 18, 2010
Jules
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I adored this. Good history that's also readable is so hard to find, but Zeitz pulls it off wonderfully -- I absolutely devoured this. He keeps track of all the threads of his story, to weave together a great narrative, and he does a fantastic job not only of contextualizing the movements of the twenties (both as reaction to the Victorian period in America and as the formative period for much of modern American culture) but of looking at all sides of the issues. Zeitz is willing to take the wart
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Oct 05, 2010
Emily
rated it:
It would be hard to make the topic of flappers boring and indeed the tales in this non-fiction piece are amusing and delightful. I particularly liked the way the author wove in excellent sociological analysis about the roots of feminism and the effect of modernization and industrialization on the history of women. He did a particularly nice job of neither judging these women or worshiping them, which is refreshing.
My only disappointment was the amount of space given to zelda fitzgerald More...
My only disappointment was the amount of space given to zelda fitzgerald More...
Dec 11, 2011
Rebecca
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An excellent, eminently readable non-fiction book. It is always much more interesting when an author not only discusses their main subject, but also thoroughly examines other topics that have had an impact on the main subject. The discussions of the birth of advertising as we know it, the youthful film industry and of course, fashion, both during the time of the flapper and during the Victorian era, are just as interesting as the discussions of the flappers themselves. This is not just a book ab
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Apr 08, 2011
teacup_carousel
rated it:
I can't imagine I'll ever need another book on flappers after reading this one. Zeitz is very thorough in how he approaches the subject and even though some of the chapters became a little jam-packed later on, the writing was very approachable.
Beginning with the late Victorian era, Zietz deftly maneuvers the reader throughout the rest of the 20's by using the Fitzgeralds (Zelda and Francis) as a vehicle for expounding upon the zeitgeist created by young women all over the world. It More...
Beginning with the late Victorian era, Zietz deftly maneuvers the reader throughout the rest of the 20's by using the Fitzgeralds (Zelda and Francis) as a vehicle for expounding upon the zeitgeist created by young women all over the world. It More...
Feb 08, 2011
Mary
rated it:
wanted to read this book because it was my grandmother's youth - my mother was born in 1925.
Very enlightening about flappers but it turned into quite an education about the entire decade of the 1920's (more or less). The biggest thing I learned was that the 20s seem very similar to what's going on today in terms of technology changing things and people's perspectives on life, but then again, the 60s were like that too.
Therefore, it was a good picture of how history repeats i More...
Very enlightening about flappers but it turned into quite an education about the entire decade of the 1920's (more or less). The biggest thing I learned was that the 20s seem very similar to what's going on today in terms of technology changing things and people's perspectives on life, but then again, the 60s were like that too.
Therefore, it was a good picture of how history repeats i More...
Dec 19, 2011
Kim
rated it:
This book is ostensibly about the era of the flapper (the 20s) but reading it, I find the parallels to the current time. Celebutantes like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton are not new. Back then they were women like Clara Bow and Colleen Moore. It delves deeper into the psychological and sociological mindset of the US as well as the economics of the period. Very interesting. I ostensibly bought this book because I read about Lois Long (aka Lipstick from The New Yorker magazines infancy) and wante
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Jan 31, 2012
I started reading this maybe a month ago, but I put it down for some reason, although it was interesting and on a subject that I enjoy.
But on this past Saturday I picked it back and rapidly got consumed in the book again. It starts off focusing on the Fitzgeralds. Theirs is a fascinating story. From there each chapter mentions some of the major players in the 1920s. Of course it's more of general book, but I liked the glimpses of Clara Bow, Coco Chanel, etc. I'll definitely be looking More...
But on this past Saturday I picked it back and rapidly got consumed in the book again. It starts off focusing on the Fitzgeralds. Theirs is a fascinating story. From there each chapter mentions some of the major players in the 1920s. Of course it's more of general book, but I liked the glimpses of Clara Bow, Coco Chanel, etc. I'll definitely be looking More...
Dec 20, 2011
Amy
rated it:
This was a great non-fiction about the women and culture of the 1920s and how the flapper was truly the first modern American. The book is thematic, not chronological; which makes for a very interesting read. It covers the celebrity (F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald), the clothes, the politics and the movies that made the era what it was.
I loved the passion that Zeitz shares, the stories he tells are larger than life which fits the themes perfectly. His seamless transitions make for More...
I loved the passion that Zeitz shares, the stories he tells are larger than life which fits the themes perfectly. His seamless transitions make for More...
Jul 17, 2011
Colleen
rated it:
Ever since I played a flapper in a high school play, I've been very interested in their history and lifestyle. And, I guess this should be no surprise, someone has finally written a book about them. Flapper is about so much more than the woman and the clothes she wore. Zeitz's book encompasses the entire decade that was the heyday of the flapper, the 1920s. I was surprised at how short that heyday was. He unifies that decade with the spectacular rise and spectacular fall of F. Scott and Zel
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Aug 23, 2010
Eric
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I have enjoyed a few great nonfiction books about the late 19th/early 20th centuries - that's a huge time period, no doubt, but something about its historical distance from present day appeals to me. So, I was more interested in the historical period than the feminist/social issues or individual biographical stories. However, this book is mostly feminist/social issues and mini-biographies, but I was not necessarily disappointed. The social issue part of this book was fascinating, how the flap
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Sep 14, 2009
Chelsea
rated it:
Who made the flapper, who was the flapper...Ties the cultural revolution of the Flapper in with the close of WWI, the emergence of cities, the advent of advertising and consumerism, and the influence of movies and celebrity. Fun to read.
Its interesting to think of the 1920's and the parallels of this decade. The flapper image used and was used by consumerism to further the freedom of the individual and shake off old morality, yet now "consumer choice" is more often than not More...
Its interesting to think of the 1920's and the parallels of this decade. The flapper image used and was used by consumerism to further the freedom of the individual and shake off old morality, yet now "consumer choice" is more often than not More...
Jul 31, 2010
Kelley
rated it:
Lis Riba recommended this book about four years ago and I finally got around to reading it. It starts off slowly, with a lot of background on F. Scott Fitzgerald, though I wasn't entirely clear why until the author makes it clear that he considers Fitz the originator of the term and the literature on flappers. Indeed, Fitzgerald seems to have made his early reputation as a chronicler of the Flapper and the Flapper lifestyle. I'd rather have learned that up front since it wasn't clear why I wante
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Feb 27, 2011
Jessi
rated it:
Pretty light overview of the 1920's, specifically looking at the rise, and eventual fall, of the fashions and attitude known as "the Flapper." This was a fast read and didn't really uncover anything I hadn't read in other books, but it was a fun read. A lot of attention is paid to Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, undeniably a couple that helped to explode the phenomenon but I wish there had been more about the "normal" girls who were living the life.
Apr 02, 2009
Jenny
rated it:
The author does a great job of fitting in a lot of information in and staying entertaining and only a few times it seemed a little bit all over the place. Everytime I started to think, 'what does that have to do with it' I was answered. I especially liked how he introduced the film flappers and wrapped up the book with how it all ended for the main figures. My only objection is I would have liked an entire chapter on non-white flappers instead of only a couple pages.
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Jun 10, 2009
Eli
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Just the right mix of cultural history and narrative flow to keep my interest... extremely rare in non-memoir non-fiction. There's a lot of topics that pique my interest, but I have a DAMN hard time reading long-form research non-fiction unless it's VERY well written in a narrative form. So this succeeds on that level. It may be a little biased in the conclusions the author draws but I was interested and learned a lot about the beginnings of consumerism from this, and it made me think a lot abou
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Aug 22, 2011
Glorious.Clio
rated it:
I was a little worried at first, because Zeitz seemed a little too obsessed with F. Scott Fitgerald (whom I do not like, preferring Hemingway). But I needn't have worried.
In many ways Scott and his wife do personify the twenties (not completely, but they certainly were happy to exploit the images of flappers and sheiks). But other women who helped make the decade (and men, of course), Clara Bow, Lois Long, Coco Chanel, etc, are certainly not ignored.
It's really rema More...
In many ways Scott and his wife do personify the twenties (not completely, but they certainly were happy to exploit the images of flappers and sheiks). But other women who helped make the decade (and men, of course), Clara Bow, Lois Long, Coco Chanel, etc, are certainly not ignored.
It's really rema More...
Sep 27, 2011
As history books go I'd rate this as a 'ripping good read'. The author makes some fairly broad sweeping statements without a lot of supporting information, and I don't know enough about US history to completely trust all of the arguments, but it was very entertaining and seemed to be informative enough. There was quite a heavy focus on F Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda, along with profiles of various other notables of the era, but as I picked this up to read with 'Flappers and Philosophers' by F Scot
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Oct 22, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
Interesting overview of the flapper phenomenon. Glosses over a lot of fascinating characters, such as Coco Chanel, Louise Brooks, Clara Bow, and Lois Long. Covers the Fitzgeralds pretty thoroughly. The main personalities are larger than life - and are probably better served by full biographies. Still, it's an interesting look at the time period of the 20's.
