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Centenarians: The Story of the 20th Century by the Americans Who Lived It
An oral history of the twentieth century in America.
By 1990, over 37,000 Americans had lived to the age of one hundred. Their lives spanned world wars, the Depression, the rise and demise of the great Red Menace, and the emergence of the United States as a world power.
Through interviews with centenarians across the country, Bernard Edelman draws a dazzling portrait of Americans in the twentieth century, evoking the work ethic of rural farms, the nation's awe at inventions such as the automobile, and the collective despair at the onset of world war. These recollections are a treasure of the century's social history. The young immigrant survivor who can still smell the smoke of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. The rookie pitcher who struck out the first batter he ever faced in the big Ty Cobb. The dashing artillery officer who won a Silver Star in the Great War. The officer in the Quartermaster Corps who witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The motorcycle racer who barnstormed the nation, setting records that will never be broken. The feisty woman who led a walkout at the premiere of Gone With the Wind. The man who invented Pampers.
Their memories serve as a timeless reminder of life in twentieth-century America.
By 1990, over 37,000 Americans had lived to the age of one hundred. Their lives spanned world wars, the Depression, the rise and demise of the great Red Menace, and the emergence of the United States as a world power.
Through interviews with centenarians across the country, Bernard Edelman draws a dazzling portrait of Americans in the twentieth century, evoking the work ethic of rural farms, the nation's awe at inventions such as the automobile, and the collective despair at the onset of world war. These recollections are a treasure of the century's social history. The young immigrant survivor who can still smell the smoke of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. The rookie pitcher who struck out the first batter he ever faced in the big Ty Cobb. The dashing artillery officer who won a Silver Star in the Great War. The officer in the Quartermaster Corps who witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The motorcycle racer who barnstormed the nation, setting records that will never be broken. The feisty woman who led a walkout at the premiere of Gone With the Wind. The man who invented Pampers.
Their memories serve as a timeless reminder of life in twentieth-century America.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
432 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 1999
35 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
April 27, 2015
Interesting snippets from the elderly. I bought for my husband wholoves history and I finally read it this year- front to back. Even though, for themost part, I am not into history, I throroughly enjoyed this book as it was told by individuals. Each chapter is written about different things in history from several views. Some of the people interviewed were quite interesting people.
An oral history of the twentieth century in America.
By 1990, over 37,000 Americans had lived to the age of one hundred. Their lives spanned world wars, the Depression, the rise and demise of the great Red Menace, and the emergence of the United States as a world power.
Through interviews with centenarians across the country, Bernard Edelman draws a dazzling portrait of Americans in the twentieth century, evoking the work ethic of rural farms, the nation's awe at inventions such as the automobile, and the collective despair at the onset of world war. These recollections are a treasure of the century's social history. The young immigrant survivor who can still smell the smoke of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. The rookie pitcher who struck out the first batter he ever faced in the big leagues: Ty Cobb. The dashing artillery officer who won a Silver Star in the Great War. The officer in the Quartermaster Corps who witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The motorcycle racer who barnstormed the nation, setting records that will never be broken. The feisty woman who led a walkout at the premiere of Gone With the Wind. The man who invented Pampers.
Their memories serve as a timeless reminder of life in twentieth-century America.
An oral history of the twentieth century in America.
By 1990, over 37,000 Americans had lived to the age of one hundred. Their lives spanned world wars, the Depression, the rise and demise of the great Red Menace, and the emergence of the United States as a world power.
Through interviews with centenarians across the country, Bernard Edelman draws a dazzling portrait of Americans in the twentieth century, evoking the work ethic of rural farms, the nation's awe at inventions such as the automobile, and the collective despair at the onset of world war. These recollections are a treasure of the century's social history. The young immigrant survivor who can still smell the smoke of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire. The rookie pitcher who struck out the first batter he ever faced in the big leagues: Ty Cobb. The dashing artillery officer who won a Silver Star in the Great War. The officer in the Quartermaster Corps who witnessed the signing of the Treaty of Versailles. The motorcycle racer who barnstormed the nation, setting records that will never be broken. The feisty woman who led a walkout at the premiere of Gone With the Wind. The man who invented Pampers.
Their memories serve as a timeless reminder of life in twentieth-century America.
December 27, 2015
Centenarians: The Story of the 20th Century by the Americans Who Lived It by Bernard Edelman (Farrar, Strauss & Giroux 1999) (973.91) is a set of oral histories of the 1900's as transcribed by the author. In extensive and interesting interviews, the author captured memories of everyday life and living in the late 19th and 20th centuries from those who lived the stories before they were gone. My rating: 5/10, finished 2/10/11.
January 31, 2010
LOVED it! What a great way to experience history. I'm inspired by the lives they live and by the amazing strides we've made since the late 1800s. I cannot wait to be a Centenarian myself & I marvel at what my story might be.
Well edited. If I were the journalist, I'd be interested in knowing a few more things: their view of their children's picket-fence generation, the 60s, civil rights, and changing fashions.
Well edited. If I were the journalist, I'd be interested in knowing a few more things: their view of their children's picket-fence generation, the 60s, civil rights, and changing fashions.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 28, 2008
This one took a while to read - just a lot of information. Lots of stories from people who lived all of the 1900's, and then some. Fascinating to look at what happened during their lifetimes. Separated into historical and cultural groupings with some short biographies at the end.
August 23, 2008
Go centenarians!
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews