When we went first class

by Ellen Williamson

Come along with an engaging, charming traveler and catch a glimpse of the high life of yesteryear. Join Ellen Williamson as she reminisces about the days of boarding schools, debutante dances, and afternoon teas.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Biography

250 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living around Brucemore this was interesting to read and very enlightening

[Debbie Manning · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating to see how the other half lived.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the descriptions of what it was really like to grow up in the 20s in Iowa, California and Charlevoix for the summer. The detail on many methods of transportation: car, rail and ship are fascinating and the author has a great good sense of humor and enjoyment of life. She wrote the book in 1974 looking back on a life that started in 19oo- the kind of person who trancends time and place. I think it might be out of print now and I found a copy at my Mom's. We had a lively discussion about some of what she remembers and then discussed it with a friend from Burt Lake. Turns out the book was a favorite of her mother's and, in fact, Allyn probably got it from said mother way back when. Keep reading! Sarah

[summer61 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this would be about growing up in Iowa in the early part of the 20th century. It was, but it was about growing up very, very rich in Iowa and other comfortable places. The evocation of wealth started out irritating me, but then the author won me over - that was what she was born into, and she comes across as smart, witty and fully enjoying life. And the descriptions of early 1900s train travel, air travel, society dances, college, and so on, was great fun.