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Top Drawer: American High Society from the Gilded Age to the Roaring Twenties
Looks at America's brief, but glorious age of high society through rare illustrations from family scrapbooks, a portfolio of Charles Dana Gibson drawings, and reproductions of invitations to "at-homes" and elite balls
234 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
June 8, 2018
I picked up this book mainly for research (since I'm getting into writing historical fiction set in the Gilded Age). It's a fascinating look at the high society of the period. Some of the rituals and beliefs of that society border on what we would think today as absurd. But at the same time, it was interesting and also helped me greatly in my research.
My one complaint about the book is that it limited the discussion of the top drawer society of the Gilded Age to a certain area of the United States - mainly the East Coast like New York and Boston. There was hardly any mention of anywhere else. Washington society was mentioned a bit and there were smatterings of mentions of the South but almost nothing of the West Coast. I would have liked a much wider range of experiences in this society all over the United States and not just the so-called leaders of the aristocratic circles of the time. Overall, though, an informative and entertaining book.
My one complaint about the book is that it limited the discussion of the top drawer society of the Gilded Age to a certain area of the United States - mainly the East Coast like New York and Boston. There was hardly any mention of anywhere else. Washington society was mentioned a bit and there were smatterings of mentions of the South but almost nothing of the West Coast. I would have liked a much wider range of experiences in this society all over the United States and not just the so-called leaders of the aristocratic circles of the time. Overall, though, an informative and entertaining book.
December 7, 2018
Really enjoyed this one, and didn't even realize it was originally published in the early 80s until I read through the bibliography and saw all the sources were from the 70s and earlier. Full review to come.
May 10, 2021
Interesting quick read but lacks depth
Top Drawer recounts what life and the values system was like for the American upper class of the Gilded Age through the 1940s. Touching on the resorts, manners, customs, of the elite etc., this book gives a quick overview of what was made wealthy tick at that time. This is a quick reading book with some interesting insights, but without depth. It’s a good overview but I would look elsewhere if you seek deeper insights.
Top Drawer recounts what life and the values system was like for the American upper class of the Gilded Age through the 1940s. Touching on the resorts, manners, customs, of the elite etc., this book gives a quick overview of what was made wealthy tick at that time. This is a quick reading book with some interesting insights, but without depth. It’s a good overview but I would look elsewhere if you seek deeper insights.
June 22, 2013
Being a time of turbulence and change, stretching from when the "bouncers" were becoming rich at too quick a rate for them to be absorbed into Society to when the Great Depression meant not all but agood number were no longer rich, and the rest toned down the ostentation.
It also covers regional variations. Like the acceptability of a Bostonian young man going into art instead of law or banking -- certainly not acceptable in New York City. In some cities, you could be a denomination other than Episcopalian -- Quakers for Philadelphia, Presbyterians in New York, Congregationalist or Unitarian in Boston -- but Episcopalian was always acceptable, and in New York, when they chose where to open a church, where was fashionable shifted to follow it.
The gentle art of distinguishing who was acceptable and who not -- Catholics and Jews were problems. But Catholics in certain cities were the old families, and many Protestant heiresses opted to buy themselves Catholic noblemen in Europe, so they became acceptable even as attitudes against Jews were hardening. An Englishman found it hard to figure out the rules. Partly because neither politics nor military service cut any ice in America. Societies of early settlers were sometimes a mark, but neither the Sons nor the Daughters of the American Revolution really worked because too many of the people-we-don't-know could lay claim to that honor.
Filled with details on their lives. Education -- prep schools and college for the boy; at home for the girls, some boarding schools opening in the later period. And the exclusive clubs thereafter. Though the women's were only in the later decades. Their fashions, deliberately impractical. The fashion for chaperons in this time. Before this, it had never been an American tradition. The servants. The fashion for dark colors for rooms, which looked rather worse after electricity came in, and the changes in fashion for the decoration.
Going aboard with the fearful danger of having to live in a hotel, which, even if the proprietor tried to aim for the upper crust, still might be filled with people-we-don't-know. Impoverished upper-crust Americans sometimes made a living by smoothing things for their richer fellow Americans.
Their resorts. The extravagance of Newport, where the up-and-coming were advised that the best way to come was by yacht, and live on it, so they could depart with some grace if utterly snubbed. You needed 240 dresses for a sixty day season there. The concerted respectability of Bar Harbor, where young men and women could adhere to the respectable American custom of unchaperoned walks in the woods, and go out in a boat together, provided it was broad daylight, they could be seen from the deck, and the boat had oars, not sails, so they couldn't be becalmed -- and you could respectably stay in a hotel. The first country clubs, and the Adirondacks, and Saratoga Springs, where men watched races and women got to sit around.
Some were charitable, some were not. Others went in for art -- but not artists.
And the Society Pages, the horror of high society. Including one writer with a charming tendency to blackmail.
Filled with anecdotes, like:
A woman who would invite her sons to dine with her, in full formal dress, when their father wasn't home. They could opt for their usual diner, but she never relented on the requirement.
Tin tubs that were kept as sparkling as the silver, so it was like bathing in silver.
At the opera, the names of those who had taken boxes were printed in the program.
If your ship passed another on the Atlantic, you could send a "Macronigram" to those you knew on board.
One survivor of the Titanic recorded in her account whom she knew in the lifeboat she took from the sinking ship. (Her husband drowned. They had to argue her son was only thirteen before he was allowed on the boat.)
It also covers regional variations. Like the acceptability of a Bostonian young man going into art instead of law or banking -- certainly not acceptable in New York City. In some cities, you could be a denomination other than Episcopalian -- Quakers for Philadelphia, Presbyterians in New York, Congregationalist or Unitarian in Boston -- but Episcopalian was always acceptable, and in New York, when they chose where to open a church, where was fashionable shifted to follow it.
The gentle art of distinguishing who was acceptable and who not -- Catholics and Jews were problems. But Catholics in certain cities were the old families, and many Protestant heiresses opted to buy themselves Catholic noblemen in Europe, so they became acceptable even as attitudes against Jews were hardening. An Englishman found it hard to figure out the rules. Partly because neither politics nor military service cut any ice in America. Societies of early settlers were sometimes a mark, but neither the Sons nor the Daughters of the American Revolution really worked because too many of the people-we-don't-know could lay claim to that honor.
Filled with details on their lives. Education -- prep schools and college for the boy; at home for the girls, some boarding schools opening in the later period. And the exclusive clubs thereafter. Though the women's were only in the later decades. Their fashions, deliberately impractical. The fashion for chaperons in this time. Before this, it had never been an American tradition. The servants. The fashion for dark colors for rooms, which looked rather worse after electricity came in, and the changes in fashion for the decoration.
Going aboard with the fearful danger of having to live in a hotel, which, even if the proprietor tried to aim for the upper crust, still might be filled with people-we-don't-know. Impoverished upper-crust Americans sometimes made a living by smoothing things for their richer fellow Americans.
Their resorts. The extravagance of Newport, where the up-and-coming were advised that the best way to come was by yacht, and live on it, so they could depart with some grace if utterly snubbed. You needed 240 dresses for a sixty day season there. The concerted respectability of Bar Harbor, where young men and women could adhere to the respectable American custom of unchaperoned walks in the woods, and go out in a boat together, provided it was broad daylight, they could be seen from the deck, and the boat had oars, not sails, so they couldn't be becalmed -- and you could respectably stay in a hotel. The first country clubs, and the Adirondacks, and Saratoga Springs, where men watched races and women got to sit around.
Some were charitable, some were not. Others went in for art -- but not artists.
And the Society Pages, the horror of high society. Including one writer with a charming tendency to blackmail.
Filled with anecdotes, like:
A woman who would invite her sons to dine with her, in full formal dress, when their father wasn't home. They could opt for their usual diner, but she never relented on the requirement.
Tin tubs that were kept as sparkling as the silver, so it was like bathing in silver.
At the opera, the names of those who had taken boxes were printed in the program.
If your ship passed another on the Atlantic, you could send a "Macronigram" to those you knew on board.
One survivor of the Titanic recorded in her account whom she knew in the lifeboat she took from the sinking ship. (Her husband drowned. They had to argue her son was only thirteen before he was allowed on the boat.)
August 17, 2020
This book is a superficial read. It begins not unenjoyable, but as it wears on, it begins to feel tedious. That might be because I've read other books that have been inspired by the same events (for example, the butler unscrewing the 300-piece gold tea set and leaving it in a pile upon his dismissal--but both accounts fail to describe what it means that they were "unscrewed" and I don't know if that means they were held together with screws or that one part screwed into another and could be unscrewed for cleaning [for example, the spout of a teapot from the body, or something like that?]).
That doesn't mean there aren't amusing aspects of the book. The part about etiquette and ignoring those you haven't been introduced to is funny, for example.
The Kindle version of this older book is a mess--random italics and bad paragraph formatting.
That doesn't mean there aren't amusing aspects of the book. The part about etiquette and ignoring those you haven't been introduced to is funny, for example.
The Kindle version of this older book is a mess--random italics and bad paragraph formatting.
July 30, 2018
Felt very light and slightly unfocused to me.
July 19, 2020
A breathtaking trip through the Gilded Age , all the players, the rules of the game, and how the sociology of the time worked. I’m kind of a Gilded Age junkie and really can’t get my hands on enough factual accounts on what went on during the time. We take a brief look into every family that matter during the time and even a look at some that didn’t. We get a full glimpse of the fashions, architecture, leisure, parties, automobiles, real estate, business and so much more. I really can’t say enough fabulous things about the Top Drawer. Another fantastic thing about Top Drawer is it doesnt only focus on New York City and the circling resort towns. We get a look into what the Gilded Age looked like around the country. Most books about this period really only focus on New York and all of the other places really remained a mystery, until now. This book isn’t one to be missed if the Gilded Age is something you enjoy. Top Drawer almost acts as your trusty handbook and guide to all things Gilded Age.
October 10, 2018
Mary Cable provides an overview of the customs and social conventions typifying upper class, "top drawer" life in America during the Gilded Age. It's obviously written for a popular audience rather than a scholarly one and includes a great many generalizations that presumably gloss over the diversity of reality. Much of the material was already familiar to me, but I enjoyed the quotations and anecdotes the author shares.
May 3, 2019
This book gives a illuminating history of high society in the United States during what is known as the Gilded Age and actually into the 1920's to 30's. Especially the way in which the very rich thought of themselves and of " the people they didn't know". The idea was to only associate with the ''people they did know" to keep their lineage clean and sacrosanct. The book is richly illustrated with pictures of the very rich and their homes. A time that will never be repeated in my estimation.
April 12, 2022
This book takes one back in time to when the Society Pages of a newspaper actually existed. It's hard for people born in the last 50 years to believe that such a insular group existed, but they did. Cable captures their mores and solipsism elegantly. There are copious photographs that give a glimpse of the people and their milieu, so strange to us now but a very real phenomenon up to the 1970s.
February 20, 2019
Inciteful
Wonderful overview of American high society, especially during the Golden Age. In addition to the interesting biographies, I was able to sense how life in general existed during this period. The book reads well and in certain areas is quite funny. I recommend Top Drawer to anyone who wants to gain inside to this bygone world.
Wonderful overview of American high society, especially during the Golden Age. In addition to the interesting biographies, I was able to sense how life in general existed during this period. The book reads well and in certain areas is quite funny. I recommend Top Drawer to anyone who wants to gain inside to this bygone world.
March 25, 2019
The 1%ers weren’t very different than today’s. Showy expenditures and snobbiness. All too much. What could any one in the 1920’s do with 70 million dollars?? So much wealth and they didn’t “share” till income tax came to be—better to give it away than give to the government. Stalwart citizens😔 beautiful photographs. Interestingly written.
June 5, 2018
Interesting read about the Gilded Age of American Society. The manner and mores of the wealthy during the Gilded Age are fascinating. From the rules that had to be followed to the coming out parties to the prejudice of the wealthy prove that times have changed but the prejudices still exist.
June 11, 2018
Nothing really new in this one but Ms Cable's witty and amusing writing saves it. She tells of the houses food and scandals that were part of life in the gilded age and wickedly tells of the mores and manners that governed society. Not a bad read.
May 4, 2019
I loved this!
I was great to read about the Gilded Age. I knew some, but the book was very informative and enjoyable. It was interesting to read how some of the rules and manners came about that my grandmother and mother taught me.
I was great to read about the Gilded Age. I knew some, but the book was very informative and enjoyable. It was interesting to read how some of the rules and manners came about that my grandmother and mother taught me.
August 22, 2019
One cent from poverty
I found the behavior of the rich & famous interesting yet obnoxious. Ironically the Stock Market Crash of 1929 closed the top drawer for many. I've never seen a Brink's truck following a hearse, have you?
I found the behavior of the rich & famous interesting yet obnoxious. Ironically the Stock Market Crash of 1929 closed the top drawer for many. I've never seen a Brink's truck following a hearse, have you?
August 8, 2017
This was extremely well-researched and in-depth. It was just the sort of book I needed as research for the historical fiction I'm writing.
June 3, 2018
Eye Opening
If this is what the "Top Drawer" was, back in the day, I'm happy I missed it ! Too much to worry about !
If this is what the "Top Drawer" was, back in the day, I'm happy I missed it ! Too much to worry about !
April 3, 2019
Ah, The Good Old Days!
A tongue in cheek look at the lives of the super rich. It makes me grateful that I was not one of them. How shallow their lives!
A tongue in cheek look at the lives of the super rich. It makes me grateful that I was not one of them. How shallow their lives!
April 14, 2019
I was looking forward to this read but abandoned it early-on. It felt disjointed to me and not as interesting as the events and people likely were.
April 24, 2019
A lot of interesting information in this book!
May 7, 2019
I enjoyed reading about the history. Could have gone into way more detail, maybe actually choosing one family and following them.
April 8, 2020
Good book on Gilded Age High Society.
January 26, 2025
Well-written and detailed look at the Gilded Age. Suppose the topic interests you and/or you are doing research or a term paper; it is a great resource. Enjoy!
July 27, 2021
The Gilded Age through the Roaring Twenties is my favorite time period - so many changes, such interesting cultural phenomenons, such prettiness everywhere. This book took a brief look at several facets of the day - travel, clothing, decor, parties, etc. It was more about the culture than about people though it did delve into how people like the Vanderbilts and Astors acted in any given situation.
Overall the book seemed well-researched and was informative. It was short which kept me from getting bogged down in too much detail while still having lots of interesting tidbits!
Overall the book seemed well-researched and was informative. It was short which kept me from getting bogged down in too much detail while still having lots of interesting tidbits!
June 8, 2024
Top Drawer; American High Society rom the Gilded Age to the Roaring Twenties. By Mary Cable
A little bit of a short read! It was pretty interesting to see how people lived in the Gilded Age mostly the rich of course. I learned some things I didn’t know and along the way thru the book I got a little bit of insight as to how society got to how we are today. I do recommend this book.
A little bit of a short read! It was pretty interesting to see how people lived in the Gilded Age mostly the rich of course. I learned some things I didn’t know and along the way thru the book I got a little bit of insight as to how society got to how we are today. I do recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews