1927: High Tide of the 1920s

by Gerald Leinwand

A tumultuous stock market, a media obsessed with celebrity and scandal, a time new technologies were rocking society: the 1920s bear more than a little semblance to today, and 1927 is a snapshot of the period. Photographs and illustrations bring to life a year with astonishing parallels to the present. "[An] encyclopedic study with all the verve and excitement of a finely tuned novel.... An outstanding book." — Library Journal

Genres: Nonfiction, History

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 29, 2001

About the author

Gerald Leinwand received his Bachelor of Arts degree from New York University in 1941, his Masters degree from Columbia University in 1945 and his Doctorate from New York University in 1963. He was Dean Emeritus of the School of Education at Bernard M. Baruch College/CUNY and President Emeritus of Western Oregon University.

Reviews

[Scott Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book offers a survey of the various issues/concerns of 1927, a year that the primary author considers the apex of the decade. From Lindbergh to Ruth, to Coolidge and Mao, this work attempts to hit all the high points of that year and set it in context of the times. While it is over 20 years old, there is still some value in a read of this work. It does read a little academic, but it is not that dry and the chapters are reasonable in length and content. Not the greatest, but a solid library checkout.

[Jill H. · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love the era of the Roaring Twenties and this book provided an interesting overview of that period. It is a straightforward telling of the times with a bit of social commentary thrown in for good measure. I enjoyed it but the author had some problems with individual's names; i.e.; the silent film star Vilma Banky was identified as Vilma Blanky, and the author Vachel Lindsey was identified as Rachel Lindsey. I don't know if those are proofreading or author errors but it tends to minimize the reader's respect for the book's content. Maybe I am just nitpicking but these types of mistakes cause me to give the book a lower rating.

[Sara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Learned multiple factoids I did not know, but mostly this book was an inspiration to research the topics touched upon that really caught my interest.