The Roaring Twenties

by Edmund O. Stillman

No decade in American history has roared as loudly as the 1920s. For two centuries, the United States had lived in happy isolation from international issues. Then it was drawn into World War I. Although America was still fundamentally a provincial society, by the end of the war and the opening of the new decade, most Americans understood that a new era lay before the country. Despite Prohibition, it was an intoxicating decade, populated with characters as varied as Clarence Darrow, Henry Ford, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Charles Lindbergh, Woodrow Wilson - and flappers. It was a time when ideas about love, public decorum, dress, and speech were changing. It was a time of cultivation of the new, shocking, and sometimes, according to the standards of the previous decade, the stocking rolled below the knee, four-letter words in the mouths of debutantes, and speakeasies. All of these details, along with the economic collapse that ended the decade and sparked the Great Depression, are captured in this vivid chronicle by noted historian Edmund O. Stillman.

Genres: History

196 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 11, 2015

Reviews

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought provoking read

I confused this book with another I have in my to read pile and upon first beginning to read was unimpressed. However, as I got further into the book I became more and more engaged and thoroughly enjoyed reading it. I love history and find myself drawn to more contemporary history as I learned very little of past the Civil War in school. Thankfully, literature has introduced me to ideas and eras I would not otherwise know about. This book turned out to be very interesting and gave me much to think about. I saw many parallels to the time we are living in now and I learned a great deal about the political and historical contexts of this time in our nation's history. I would highly recommend it. It isn't a long book and gives a great overview. I definitely want to learn more!!!

[Mary Beth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not what I expected. First whole chapter on WWI. Not the 20’s. When we got to the 20’s, it was just quick short synopsis on topics that were all over the place.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good summary

This short book gives a good summary of the 1920s. The desire to end the privations of war undercuts Wilson's grandiose peace plan, even though it had inspired the nation previously. The Volstead Act has the opposite effect intended, increasing criminality and encouraging alcohol consumption, increasing the allure of drinking among women, for example.

Finally, it all comes crashing down in 1929. The book briefly mentions the Bonus Army, veterans who descended on Washington to advocate for early delivery service bonus, promised to be paid out in 1945. The Bonus Army did not accomplish what they intended, but ended up staying in what was basically a ramshackle homeless encampment on the Anacostia river. Under orders from President Hoover, the US Army under command of Gen. Douglas MacArthur and his subordinate Dwight D. Eisenhower, invaded this encampment and fired on unarmed veterans and, in many cases their families. This dirty little episode in the nation's history is not well enough known, which this little book does its part to correct.

[Douglas Milewski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Told with wit, Edmund O. Stillman reviews the 1920s in The Roaring Twenties. A short volume, easy to read, the book reviews many major moments and trends of the 1920s in the United States. If you don't know much about the decade, you'll learn about political corruption, bootlegging, financial corruption, and the less than perfect state of these United States. If you've even thought that the past was wholesome and moral, you should be dispelled of all such notions by the end.

For the serious student of history, the book is a good refresher, touching on the subjects of the day, but is ultimately lacking. The main problem with the text is that Stillman does too good of a job, sucking you back into that time, but then leaving it all too soon.

The book ends all abruptly, even for a history. There's so much more to this decade, so much more to discuss and explore. I want MORE MORE MORE. 110 page just doesn't do the decade justice.

[Riccol · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had just read Prohibition: Thirteen Years That Changed America and Flapper: A Madcap Story of Sex, Style, Celebrity, and the Women Who Made America Modern so when this came up on BookBub I jumped on it.

At about page 57 I started wondering "I'm on page 57 already, when is the meat of the book going to start? It all feels like just introductory info so far..." It was at that point I realized the book was only 110 pages long and this WAS the meat of the book. If you just want a brief look at the era in a quick read, OK, but otherwise skip this, it was too short and dry to feel like anything more than Cliff Notes.

[Anwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I must admit to being a little disappointed with this book. It reads easily and is a good introduction to the American Twenties - but that is all it is. It is very slight and there is little real analysis of the political or social history mentioned. I was left wanting more - and cheated by the abrupt and desolate ending. It is always difficult to isolate a time period, as the decades that go before and after inevitably influence and are affected by it, but it can be done. Unfortunately, this was not achieved here.

[Sarah - All The Book Blog Names Are Taken · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way shorter than I first realized. Majority of book related to presidents and very small percent devoted to the culture and economy that actually made the twenties roar. Kind of disappointing. Full review to come.

++++++

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[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I believe this book has been around for decades. Although I continue to search for the original publication date, I keep finding a 2015 date. I believe that is the e-book format. I think I read this in college for an english class, circa 1973.

[Becki Chaffee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very informative!

A well done overview of the political climate during the 20s. While I was looking for more of a personalized story of life during this period of American history, I found the straightforward historical report very enlightening and put a lot into perspective.

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good short history book on the twenties.