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1922: Scenes from a Turbulent Year
1922 was a year of great turbulence and upheaval. Its events reverberated throughout the rest of the twentieth century and still affect us today, 100 years later. Empires fell. The Ottoman Empire collapsed after more than six centuries. The British Empire had reached its greatest extent but its heyday was over. The Irish Free State was declared and demands for independence in India grew. New nations and new politics came into existence. The Soviet Union was officially created and Mussolini's Italy became the first Fascist state. In the USA, Prohibition was at its height. The Hollywood film industry, although rocked by a series of scandals, continued to grow. A new mass medium - radio - was making its presence felt and, in Britain, the BBC was founded. In literature it was the year of peak modernism. Both T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land and James Joyce's Ulysses were first published in full. In society, already changed by the trauma of war and pandemic, the morals of the past seemed increasingly outmoded; new ways of behaving were making their appearance. The Roaring Twenties had begun to roar and the Jazz Age had arrived. 1922 also saw the discovery of Tutankhamun's tomb, the arrest of Mahatma Gandhi, the death of Marcel Proust, the election of a new pope, the release of the first major vampire movie, and the brief imprisonment in Munich of an obscure right-wing demagogue named Adolf Hitler. In a sequence of vividly written sketches, Nick Rennison conjures up all the drama and diversity of an extraordinary year.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published November 18, 2021
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234 people want to read
About the author
Nick Rennison
58 books22 followersNick Rennison is a writer, editor and bookseller. His books include Sherlock Holmes: An Unauthorised Biography, Robin Hood: Myth, History, Culture, The Bloomsbury Good Reading Guide and 100 Must-Read Historical Novels. He is a regular reviewer of historical fiction for both The Sunday Times and BBC History Magazine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 56 reviews
July 7, 2022
I finished this book on the 30th of June, an appropriate date for this visit to the year a centennial ago. The book is organized by months, which makes for a very orderly and entertaining read, and I was originally going to follow the same scheme, selecting one or two items from each month. But then I realized the selected events could be arranged into categories such as: Political; Literature and Arts; Sciences and Technology; Mobility, Aviation and Exploration; Racial; Hollywood; and Tabloids – with some stories overlapping a couple of categories.
The first group for me was the Political. It acts as a skeleton for the year. Still in the aftermath of WW1 several events occurred related to the crumbling of colonialism: Egypt became independent in February, Ghandi was put on Trial. If one major leader, Lenin, was declared incapacitated, the Americans erected the Monument to Lincoln, the assassinated President. New assassinations happened in 1922: the former Emperor Karl Joseph, the Interior Minister in Finland, Walter Rathenau in Berlin, as well as Sir Henry Wilson in London and, at the end of the year, the Prime Minister of Poland, Gabriel Narutowicz, was killed by a painter. The killing of Wilson belongs to a subtheme in the Political Heading: the effects of the signing of Anglo-Irish Treaty in December 1921. Several of the events taking place in 1922 were a result of the dissatisfaction generated by that Treaty. Ironically, it was also in 1922 when the Mountbattens married, and it was in Ireland that Mountbatten was assassinated 57 years later. Another event related to the undoing of colonialism was the Great Fire in Smyrna – an episode which I have visited lately in my read The Silence of Scheherazade, and which led to the end of the Ottoman Empire a couple of months later. If 1922 was echoing WW1, it was also acting as a prelude to WW2. This was the year of the Mussolini march on Rome, and the beginning of the end for the Liberals in the British government. In June the Japanese withdrew from Siberia – later they would fix on other territorial objectives.
For Literature and the Arts, this was also a rich year. Already in February, Joyce’s Ulysses was published, but the month before, the Sitwell’s Façade was firs performed. Later in the year another major modernist work came to public light, TS Eliot’s The Waste Land was published in The Criterion, magazine which was another literary landmark. Late in the year Bertolt Brecht wrote his first play and the last month provided the extraordinary play Antigone, by Cocteau, in which Picasso, Coco and Honegger also worked. There were two disappearances during the year, though. One was the end of Dada and the other the too early death of Marcel Proust but may be the assassination of Nabokov’s father in Berlin, ought to be counted too, given the impact this had on the writing of the son. Other major happenings, with a broader impact than Modernism, were the appearance of Enid Blyton and the success of Horatio Bottomley, the editor who created the FT and John Bull, among other publications. The year, in general, was important for the Roaring Twenties generation of writers, such as the Fitzgeralds, Hemingway, Wyndham Lewis, Ezra Pound, and Sinclair Lewis.
1922 also left its mark in the Sciences and Technology, when the first patient was injected insulin in Canada at the beginning of the year. In Mongolia a dinosaur egg was first properly recognized, and two Physics Nobel Prizes were awarded. Einstein’s belonged to 1921, but had to be delayed, while Bohr’s was the official 1922 prize. To note is that Einstein’s was not for his findings in Relativity but for the Law of photoelectric effect. Archaeology also had its huge event in 1922 when Howard Carter, with the support of the Earl of Carnavon, unearthed Tutankhamun’s tomb.
Modernity also advances in the mobility and further advances in technology it provided to humanity. Crashes of zeppelins and some air collisions were balanced by a few success stories, such as the couple of Portuguese who succeeded, with several stops and other mishaps, to cross from Lisbon to Rio. Jimmy Doolittle crossed America, and Harold Harris was the first man to jump out of a parachute and thereby save his life. Attempt to fly round the World failed, but the goal was at least defined. Some figures who would leave a mark later, already make some noise: Charles Lindbergh flew for the first time and Lawrence of Arabia joined the RAF. Unfortunately, 1922 also saw the death of Shackleton and Amundsen.
The other topics, Hollywood, Sports and what was avidly followed in the Tabloids, provide additional entertainment during the read but on which I will not detain myself any further.
April 13, 2022
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November 30, 2021
This is the type of book I really love! Packed full of fascinating facts and information, easy to read and lots of moments that make you think, ‘I didn’t know that’.
1922 takes a month by month look at what was happening in the world 100 years ago. It looks at popular culture, conflicts, crimes, inventions and many more areas of social history. While it does mainly focus on the Western world there is also a few mentions of Asia too. I found myself swinging between thinking I can’t believe that only happened 100 years ago (the creation of insulin, the start of the BBC and jazz becoming a big thing) to surprised at how much has also changed in the last 100 years (aeroplanes becoming the norm, the ease of so many things). What made this book so brilliant was the small details that were added about each event. Really worth a read, especially to draw comparisons between then and the present day and note the emerging patterns of history.
I really hope this is the start of a series that will look back 100 years each year. I really loved it and shall be sending this out as Christmas presents.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
1922 takes a month by month look at what was happening in the world 100 years ago. It looks at popular culture, conflicts, crimes, inventions and many more areas of social history. While it does mainly focus on the Western world there is also a few mentions of Asia too. I found myself swinging between thinking I can’t believe that only happened 100 years ago (the creation of insulin, the start of the BBC and jazz becoming a big thing) to surprised at how much has also changed in the last 100 years (aeroplanes becoming the norm, the ease of so many things). What made this book so brilliant was the small details that were added about each event. Really worth a read, especially to draw comparisons between then and the present day and note the emerging patterns of history.
I really hope this is the start of a series that will look back 100 years each year. I really loved it and shall be sending this out as Christmas presents.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
November 4, 2021
There are obvious parallels to be drawn between today and 1922, a year in which ‘the lost generation’ were emerging from the horrors of WWI and the Spanish flu pandemic. After such loss and death, the young were desperate to enjoy themselves and throw themselves wholeheartedly into life. It was the Jazz Age, when flappers eagerly embraced every new dance craze, and also a time when change was apparent in this turbulent year.
Author Nick Rennison gives every month a short chapter and includes worldwide events – whether political, social, scientific or disasters. These range from the rise of Benito Mussolini, through famous crimes, such as Edith Thompson and Freddy Bywater, the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, the death of Marcel Proust, the formation of the USSR and the BBC (John Reith set the tone for ‘auntie,’ with the proposal that the BBC should, ‘educate, entertain and inform…’).
Alongside the monumental are smaller events, no less important to me. For example, it was the year in which Enid Blyton published her first book and Richman Crompton’s, “Just William,” appeared in print. Meanwhile, Walt Disney took fledgling steps, T.S. Eliot’s, “The Waste Land,” appeared and “Ulysses,” was published. There are sure to be many facts that will interest the reader – some more familiar than others and the author cleverly includes some of those lesser-known stories. I suspect this will be in a lot of Christmas stockings this year and will be a good start to the new New Year. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
Author Nick Rennison gives every month a short chapter and includes worldwide events – whether political, social, scientific or disasters. These range from the rise of Benito Mussolini, through famous crimes, such as Edith Thompson and Freddy Bywater, the discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb, the death of Marcel Proust, the formation of the USSR and the BBC (John Reith set the tone for ‘auntie,’ with the proposal that the BBC should, ‘educate, entertain and inform…’).
Alongside the monumental are smaller events, no less important to me. For example, it was the year in which Enid Blyton published her first book and Richman Crompton’s, “Just William,” appeared in print. Meanwhile, Walt Disney took fledgling steps, T.S. Eliot’s, “The Waste Land,” appeared and “Ulysses,” was published. There are sure to be many facts that will interest the reader – some more familiar than others and the author cleverly includes some of those lesser-known stories. I suspect this will be in a lot of Christmas stockings this year and will be a good start to the new New Year. I received a copy of this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, for review.
September 29, 2021
This was a fascinating – and very readable – book. You would think that a book restricting itself to only one year of history would either be very short – or be so padded out with trivia – that you would soon lose interest. But 1922 was a quite remarkable year in which so, so very much happened throughout the world: politically, culturally, sociologically and in science. It was a year that saw civil wars in Ireland and China. The Otterman empire ceased to exist, Egypt gained its independence, and the USSR was formed. There were numerous political assassinations, a new Pope, Mussolini came to power and Hitler was briefly jailed. USA had its first female senator, arguably its most corrupt president (Harding), frequent lynching of black men, racial tension and a resurgence of the Klu Klux Klan.
In literature 1922 saw the publication of Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’, TS Elliot’s ‘The Wasteland’ and Enid Blyton’s first book. Earnest Hemmingway and F Scott Fitzgerald were coming into prominence, as Marcel Proust died. In the theatre, Bertolt Brecht had the staging of his first play, and Jean Cocteau produced ‘Antigone’ with set designs by Picasso and costumes by Coco Channel. It was the Jazz age, with Flappers, and Louis Armstrong moving to New York and fame. A great year for film in Germany (‘Nosferatu’ et al), Scandinavia and France – not to mention USA and Britain, with Walt Disney’s first animations and Hitchcock’s first film released. The BBC was established and the Lincoln memorial dedicated.
There were great leaps forward in aviation – as well as disasters. In physics, both Einstein and Niels Bohr received Nobel prizes. There were scandals, superb sporting achievements, major discoveries such as Tutankhamun’s tomb – and so much more.
Each month of the year 1922 has its own chapter – and its own significant happenings – many of which still resonate today. It was a year of great change, and new beginnings.
While the book does mainly focus on USA and Europe, there are occurrences further afield of note that receive attention (China, Japan, Turkey).
I found the book extremely interesting. While many of the incidents were known to me (at least in outline), not all were – and I had not known that all happened in such a short time of one calendar year.
I highly recommend this book to anyone with even the slightest interest in history.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by either the author or publisher.
In literature 1922 saw the publication of Joyce’s ‘Ulysses’, TS Elliot’s ‘The Wasteland’ and Enid Blyton’s first book. Earnest Hemmingway and F Scott Fitzgerald were coming into prominence, as Marcel Proust died. In the theatre, Bertolt Brecht had the staging of his first play, and Jean Cocteau produced ‘Antigone’ with set designs by Picasso and costumes by Coco Channel. It was the Jazz age, with Flappers, and Louis Armstrong moving to New York and fame. A great year for film in Germany (‘Nosferatu’ et al), Scandinavia and France – not to mention USA and Britain, with Walt Disney’s first animations and Hitchcock’s first film released. The BBC was established and the Lincoln memorial dedicated.
There were great leaps forward in aviation – as well as disasters. In physics, both Einstein and Niels Bohr received Nobel prizes. There were scandals, superb sporting achievements, major discoveries such as Tutankhamun’s tomb – and so much more.
Each month of the year 1922 has its own chapter – and its own significant happenings – many of which still resonate today. It was a year of great change, and new beginnings.
While the book does mainly focus on USA and Europe, there are occurrences further afield of note that receive attention (China, Japan, Turkey).
I found the book extremely interesting. While many of the incidents were known to me (at least in outline), not all were – and I had not known that all happened in such a short time of one calendar year.
I highly recommend this book to anyone with even the slightest interest in history.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own and not influenced by either the author or publisher.
February 13, 2023
Published just in time to greet 2022, this popular history book looks at the one hundred-year anniversary of this eventful year from the early twentieth century. Already singled for being an usual time, the 'Roaring Twenties' and the 'Jazz Age' stood between two World Wars and the collapse of old empires and the start of the new.
The book is divided into twelve chapters, one for each month, and starts with an overview summary of the main events of the month. Then the information is discussed in more detail alongside other notable information. This obviously includes major world happenings: countries that gained independence, like Egypt, major new discoveries, assassinations, elections and appointments. But it also looks at film, literature, radio and the newly formed BBC.
The significance of the year is, to a large extent, viewed with our hindsight. Who would have thought that the hyperinflation in Germany would have led where it did, that a relatively unknown pollical party leader wrote a book while in jail that would spark a new ideology, and Italy's new dictator would leave his mark in the future. There was a new urgency - people no longer lived by the morality that went before. Life had suddenly grown up, freedom and extravagance was the new language. The Great War had changed everyone's perspective in just about every way.
This is a fun book to read, presented in easy calendar chunks, with all of the fascinating events laid out in a tabloidesque way. To see one year portrayed like this really brings it home. What a time to be alive.
The book is divided into twelve chapters, one for each month, and starts with an overview summary of the main events of the month. Then the information is discussed in more detail alongside other notable information. This obviously includes major world happenings: countries that gained independence, like Egypt, major new discoveries, assassinations, elections and appointments. But it also looks at film, literature, radio and the newly formed BBC.
The significance of the year is, to a large extent, viewed with our hindsight. Who would have thought that the hyperinflation in Germany would have led where it did, that a relatively unknown pollical party leader wrote a book while in jail that would spark a new ideology, and Italy's new dictator would leave his mark in the future. There was a new urgency - people no longer lived by the morality that went before. Life had suddenly grown up, freedom and extravagance was the new language. The Great War had changed everyone's perspective in just about every way.
This is a fun book to read, presented in easy calendar chunks, with all of the fascinating events laid out in a tabloidesque way. To see one year portrayed like this really brings it home. What a time to be alive.
May 12, 2022
There are many adjectives to describe the year 1922 – significant, pivotal, turbulent, ground-breaking – and key events happened in so many areas – literature, music, technology, science, medicine. Nick Rennison takes us through the year in a month-by-month survey chronicling some of those events, both large and small, significant and not so significant, in a wonderfully entertaining and informative book that is a joy to dip in and out of. He’s chosen an eclectic mix of subjects, some more obviously important than others, but these bite-sized chunks set the year in context and are a marvellous stepping off point for the reader’s own research. A great read.
March 11, 2022
Τι συνέβη στον κόσμο τη δεκαετία του 1920 και συγκεκριμένα το 1922; Ποια καλλιτεχνικά, πολιτικά, κοινωνικά, οικο��ομικά, αθλητικά γεγονότα άλλαξαν την πορεία της ανθρωπότητας και γιατί μερικά από αυτά συζητιούνται ή εξακολουθούν να μας επηρεάζουν ακόμη και σήμερα; Ο Nick Rennison έγραψε ένα ενδιαφέρον και τεκμηριωμένο χρονολόγιο που αναλύει και καταγράφει εξελίξεις, καταστάσεις, ανατροπές και απώλειες.
Η δεκαετία του 1920 είχε έναν ιδιαίτερο χαρακτήρα, μάλιστα πολλοί την αποκάλεσαν «ασυνήθιστη». Μόλις είχαν τελειώσει ένας μεγάλος πόλεμος και η πανδημία της ισπανικής γρίπης, με εκατομμύρια θύματα, οπότε οι άνθρωποι ένιωθαν πως δεν είχαν προσανατολισμό και φιλοδοξίες. Μοναδικός τους στόχος ήταν να διασκεδάζουν και να χορεύουν, να απολαμβάνουν χωρίς φραγμούς και όρια, ο ηδονισμός ήταν πλέον το ζητούμενο. Ταυτόχρονα όμως δεν έπαψαν να υφίστανται αλλαγές σε κοινωνικό, οικονομικό, ανθρωπιστικό και πολιτικό επίπεδο, με επίκεντρο το έτος 1922, όπου η Οθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία κατέρρευσε, με τον τελευταίο της σουλτάνο να εξορίζεται, η Βρετανική Αυτοκρατορία παρέπαιε με έναν εμφύλιο να ακολουθεί το σύμφωνο ειρήνης με την Ιρλανδία το 1921, η Αίγυπτος είχε μια ασθενή μορφή αυτοδιοίκησης, το κίνημα ανεξαρτησίας στην Ινδία αποκτούσε δύναμη, ιδρύθηκε η Ένωση Σοβιετικών Σοσιαλιστικών Δημοκρατιών, η Ιταλία έγινε το πρώτο φασιστικό κράτος κ. π. ά. Ο συγγραφέας, που θέλει να επιμορφώσει και ταυτόχρονα να διασκεδάσει τους αναγνώστες του, καταγράφει μια σειρά από στιγμιότυπα (πολιτικά, οικονομικά, καλλιτεχνικά, αθλητικά, κοινωνικά κ. ά.) με μικρά, ευσύνοπτα και πλούσια σε πληροφορίες κεφάλαια που περιγράφουν το υπόβαθρο, τις συνέπειες, τα αποτελέσματα και τις αιτίες των γεγονότων που αναφέρονται, χτίζοντας έτσι ένα πλούσιο και ελκυστικό σύμπαν μέσα από το οποίο συγκροτείται μια από τις πιο σημαντικές χρονιές της δεκαετίας του 1920. Δε χρειάζεται να διαβαστεί από την αρχή ως το τέλος αλλά μπορεί ο αναγνώστης να επιλέξει ποιο κομμάτι τον ενδιαφέρει περισσότερο, είμαι σίγουρος όμως πως η γραφή και ο τρόπος παράθεσης θα τον κερδίσουν και σύντομα θα διαβάσει όλο το βιβλίο!
Τι να πρωτοδιαλέξω και σε τι να πρωτοαναφερθώ! Στην πρώτη επιτυχή αντιμετώπιση του διαβήτη με την ινσουλίνη, στην εμφάνιση των ζέπελιν, στα σκάνδαλα στο Χόλυγουντ, στις δολοφονίες και στις παντός είδους τραγωδίες; Στην κυκλοφορία του Οδυσσέα του Τζέιμς Τζόις, στη σύλληψη του Μαχάτμα Γκάντι, στη μάχη για τη διαδοχή του Βλαδίμηρου Λένιν, στην έναρξη της καριέρας του Γουόλτ Ντίσνεϊ; Στην εμφάνιση της Ένιντ Μπλάιτον, στις εκτεταμένες ταραχές και απεργίες σε σιδηροδρόμους και ορυχεία στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες Αμερικής, στον Λούις Άρμστρονγκ και στην Κου Κλουξ Κλαν; Φυσικά, η καταστροφή της Σμύρνης δε θα μπορούσε να λείπει και αναφέρθηκε ακριβοδίκαια και τεκμηριωμένα όπως σε όλα τα κείμενα. Ας μου επιτραπεί πάντως να σημειώσω πως ο συγγραφέας αποδίδει τη μικρασιατική καταστροφή στη σύγκρουση μεταξύ της Μεγάλης Ιδέας του Ελευθερίου Βενιζέλου και του οράματος για ένωση του τουρκικού κράτους σε ένα εκσυγχρονιστικό ενιαίο του Κεμάλ Ατατούρκ, κάτι μεν σωστό αλλά έτσι όπως περιγράφει τα γεγονότα ενιαία δεν αναφέρει πως ο Βενιζέλος έχασε τις εκλογές πριν την καταστροφή, κάτι που χειροτέρεψε την τελική φάση των εξελίξεων, αντίθετα, στο κείμενο φαίνεται σα να είναι ακόμη ο Βενιζέλος επικεφαλής ως το 1922. Η καθαρά υποκειμενική μου αυτή σκέψη δε μειώνει την αξία και το κύρος του βιβλίου, στο οποίο πάντα θα προστρέχω αν χρειαστώ κάποια πληροφορία.
Το βιβλίο «1922: η χρονιά που άλλαξε τον κόσμο» είναι μια ενδιαφέρουσα, αντικειμενική και προσεγμένη έρευνα γύρω από ποικίλα γεγονότα που άλλαξαν τον ρου της Ιστορίας και βελτίωσαν ή χειροτέρεψαν συνθήκες, καταστάσεις και θέσφατα που μας επηρεάζουν ακόμη και σήμερα. Είναι χωρισμένο σε κεφάλαια ανά μήνα του έτους και κάθε ένα από αυτά έχει ξεχωριστές υπο-ενότητες, κάτι που βοηθάει αφάνταστα την ανάγνωση και το κάνει πιο προσιτό και εύληπτο στον καθένα. Εισαγωγή, Βιβλιογραφία, Ευχαριστίες, Ευρετήριο και Πηγές φωτογραφιών συμπληρώνουν ένα έργο που με έμαθε πολλά και με παρακίνησε να μελετήσω περισσότερο κάποια γεγονότα.
Πρώτη δημοσίευση στο site μου: www.vivliokritikes.com/1922-%ce%b7-%c...
Η δεκαετία του 1920 είχε έναν ιδιαίτερο χαρακτήρα, μάλιστα πολλοί την αποκάλεσαν «ασυνήθιστη». Μόλις είχαν τελειώσει ένας μεγάλος πόλεμος και η πανδημία της ισπανικής γρίπης, με εκατομμύρια θύματα, οπότε οι άνθρωποι ένιωθαν πως δεν είχαν προσανατολισμό και φιλοδοξίες. Μοναδικός τους στόχος ήταν να διασκεδάζουν και να χορεύουν, να απολαμβάνουν χωρίς φραγμούς και όρια, ο ηδονισμός ήταν πλέον το ζητούμενο. Ταυτόχρονα όμως δεν έπαψαν να υφίστανται αλλαγές σε κοινωνικό, οικονομικό, ανθρωπιστικό και πολιτικό επίπεδο, με επίκεντρο το έτος 1922, όπου η Οθωμανική Αυτοκρατορία κατέρρευσε, με τον τελευταίο της σουλτάνο να εξορίζεται, η Βρετανική Αυτοκρατορία παρέπαιε με έναν εμφύλιο να ακολουθεί το σύμφωνο ειρήνης με την Ιρλανδία το 1921, η Αίγυπτος είχε μια ασθενή μορφή αυτοδιοίκησης, το κίνημα ανεξαρτησίας στην Ινδία αποκτούσε δύναμη, ιδρύθηκε η Ένωση Σοβιετικών Σοσιαλιστικών Δημοκρατιών, η Ιταλία έγινε το πρώτο φασιστικό κράτος κ. π. ά. Ο συγγραφέας, που θέλει να επιμορφώσει και ταυτόχρονα να διασκεδάσει τους αναγνώστες του, καταγράφει μια σειρά από στιγμιότυπα (πολιτικά, οικονομικά, καλλιτεχνικά, αθλητικά, κοινωνικά κ. ά.) με μικρά, ευσύνοπτα και πλούσια σε πληροφορίες κεφάλαια που περιγράφουν το υπόβαθρο, τις συνέπειες, τα αποτελέσματα και τις αιτίες των γεγονότων που αναφέρονται, χτίζοντας έτσι ένα πλούσιο και ελκυστικό σύμπαν μέσα από το οποίο συγκροτείται μια από τις πιο σημαντικές χρονιές της δεκαετίας του 1920. Δε χρειάζεται να διαβαστεί από την αρχή ως το τέλος αλλά μπορεί ο αναγνώστης να επιλέξει ποιο κομμάτι τον ενδιαφέρει περισσότερο, είμαι σίγουρος όμως πως η γραφή και ο τρόπος παράθεσης θα τον κερδίσουν και σύντομα θα διαβάσει όλο το βιβλίο!
Τι να πρωτοδιαλέξω και σε τι να πρωτοαναφερθώ! Στην πρώτη επιτυχή αντιμετώπιση του διαβήτη με την ινσουλίνη, στην εμφάνιση των ζέπελιν, στα σκάνδαλα στο Χόλυγουντ, στις δολοφονίες και στις παντός είδους τραγωδίες; Στην κυκλοφορία του Οδυσσέα του Τζέιμς Τζόις, στη σύλληψη του Μαχάτμα Γκάντι, στη μάχη για τη διαδοχή του Βλαδίμηρου Λένιν, στην έναρξη της καριέρας του Γουόλτ Ντίσνεϊ; Στην εμφάνιση της Ένιντ Μπλάιτον, στις εκτεταμένες ταραχές και απεργίες σε σιδηροδρόμους και ορυχεία στις Ηνωμένες Πολιτείες Αμερικής, στον Λούις Άρμστρονγκ και στην Κου Κλουξ Κλαν; Φυσικά, η καταστροφή της Σμύρνης δε θα μπορούσε να λείπει και αναφέρθηκε ακριβοδίκαια και τεκμηριωμένα όπως σε όλα τα κείμενα. Ας μου επιτραπεί πάντως να σημειώσω πως ο συγγραφέας αποδίδει τη μικρασιατική καταστροφή στη σύγκρουση μεταξύ της Μεγάλης Ιδέας του Ελευθερίου Βενιζέλου και του οράματος για ένωση του τουρκικού κράτους σε ένα εκσυγχρονιστικό ενιαίο του Κεμάλ Ατατούρκ, κάτι μεν σωστό αλλά έτσι όπως περιγράφει τα γεγονότα ενιαία δεν αναφέρει πως ο Βενιζέλος έχασε τις εκλογές πριν την καταστροφή, κάτι που χειροτέρεψε την τελική φάση των εξελίξεων, αντίθετα, στο κείμενο φαίνεται σα να είναι ακόμη ο Βενιζέλος επικεφαλής ως το 1922. Η καθαρά υποκειμενική μου αυτή σκέψη δε μειώνει την αξία και το κύρος του βιβλίου, στο οποίο πάντα θα προστρέχω αν χρειαστώ κάποια πληροφορία.
Το βιβλίο «1922: η χρονιά που άλλαξε τον κόσμο» είναι μια ενδιαφέρουσα, αντικειμενική και προσεγμένη έρευνα γύρω από ποικίλα γεγονότα που άλλαξαν τον ρου της Ιστορίας και βελτίωσαν ή χειροτέρεψαν συνθήκες, καταστάσεις και θέσφατα που μας επηρεάζουν ακόμη και σήμερα. Είναι χωρισμένο σε κεφάλαια ανά μήνα του έτους και κάθε ένα από αυτά έχει ξεχωριστές υπο-ενότητες, κάτι που βοηθάει αφάνταστα την ανάγνωση και το κάνει πιο προσιτό και εύληπτο στον καθένα. Εισαγωγή, Βιβλιογραφία, Ευχαριστίες, Ευρετήριο και Πηγές φωτογραφιών συμπληρώνουν ένα έργο που με έμαθε πολλά και με παρακίνησε να μελετήσω περισσότερο κάποια γεγονότα.
Πρώτη δημοσίευση στο site μου: www.vivliokritikes.com/1922-%ce%b7-%c...
March 18, 2022
Εκτός από την επέτειο των διακοσίων χρόνων από την Παλιγγενεσία την περσινή χρονιά, φέτος η χώρα μας διανύει το έτος μνήμης για τη συμπλήρωση των εκατό χρόνων από τη Μικρασιατική Καταστροφή. Φαίνεται όμως πως το έτος 1922 δεν ήταν έτος καθοριστικό μονάχα για την πατρίδα μας, αλλά και για ολάκερο τον κόσμο, αφού κάποια καίριας σημασίας γεγονότα έλαβαν χώρα κατά τη διάρκειά του. Αυτό τουλάχιστον υποστηρίζει ο συγγραφέας, επιμελητής και βιβλιοπώλης Nick Rennison στο βιβλίο του “1922 η χρονιά που άλλαξε τον κόσμο“.
Βέβαια, η αλήθεια είναι πως τα περισσότερα από τα γεγονότα που περιγράφονται στο βιβλίο αντιπροσωπεύουν ολάκερη τη δεκαετία του 1920 και γενικότερα τον κόσμο του Μεσοπολέμου και όχι μονάχα τη χρονιά του 1922. Όπως και να ‘χει όμως, ακόμη κι αν δεν συμφωνήσει κάποιος ότι το 1922 ήταν μία χρονιά που άλλαξε τον κόσμο, οφείλει να συμμορφωθεί με την κοινώς αποδεκτή πεποίθηση ότι η δεκαετία του 1920 ήταν μία δεκαετία κοσμοϊστορικών συμβάντων και αλλαγών, που ώθησε την υφήλιο ένα βήμα εγγύτερα στον Αρμαγεδώνα του Δευτέρου Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου και “ενοποίησε” κατά κάποιον τρόπο τον πολιτισμό της υφηλίου.
Κατά τη διάρκεια της παρούσης δεκαετίας σημειώθηκαν πολλές εξελίξεις στην αεροπλοΐα. Η δεκαετία του 1920 δικαίως αποκαλείται επίσης εποχή της τζαζ, μιας μουσικής που ξεκίνησε από τις ΗΠΑ και τελικά κατέκτησε τον κόσμο. Κατά την ίδια δεκαετία “άνθισε” η ρατσιστική οργάνωση Κου Κλουξ Κλαν στις ΗΠΑ και ο ρατσισμός κατά τον Αφροαμερικανών έφθασε στο αποκορύφωμά του στην ίδια χώρα. Υπήρχαν επίσης εξελίξεις στο ζήτημα της αυτονομίας της Βόρειας Ιρλανδίας μέσω της δράσης του ΙRΑ, του παράνομου ιρλανδικού απελευθερωτικού στρατού.
Ειδικότερα τώρα στο έτος 1922, η Καταστροφή της Σμύρνης, αλλά και το ουσιαστικό τέλος της Οθωμανικής Αυτοκρατορίας και η μετατροπή της σε εθνικό κράτος υπήρξε γεγονός μεγίστης σημασίας, όχι μονάχα για την Ελλάδα, αλλά για ολόκληρη την ανατολική Μεσόγειο. Το έτος 1922 σηματοδότησε το τέλος της δράσης του θρυλικού Αλ Καπόνε και εκδόθηκε το σημαντικό μυθιστόρημα Οδυσσέας του Ιρλανδού Τζέιμς Τζόις, όπως και το Σαβουάρ Βιβρ της Έμιλι Ποστ, δημιουργήθηκε το BBC και πραγματοποιήθηκε η πρώτη επιτυχής πτώση με αλεξίπτωτο από αεροσκάφος. Ακόμη, κατά το ίδιο έτος η παντοδυναμία της Βρετανικής Αυτοκρατορίας άρχισε να παρουσιάζει τριγμούς, έγινε η πρώτη ένεση ινσουλίνης σε διαβητικό και ο περίφημος τάφος του Τουταγχαμών ήρθε στο φως.
Μέσα από τις σελίδες του βιβλίου ξεδιπλώνονται μπροστά στα μάτια του αναγνώστη όλες οι καθημερινές συνήθειες των ανθρώπων του Μεσοπολέμου-οι διατροφικές τους συνήθειες, η διασκέδαση και τα αναγνώσματά τους, η μουσική και η μόδα τους, καθώς και οι πεποιθήσεις τους.
Πολιτικά, καλλιτεχνικά, λογοτεχνικά, αθλητικά, επιστημονικά και κοινωνικά γεγονότα, όλα έχουν τη θέση τους στις σελίδες του βιβλίου, το οποίο χωρίζεται σε δώδεκα κεφάλαια, ένα για κάθε μήνα του έτους.
Ίσως, λοιπόν, να είναι υπερβολή αν πούμε ότι το έτος 1922 ήταν το έτος που άλλαξε τον κόσμο. Γενικεύοντας όμως, μέσα από το βιβλίο του Rennison, μπορούμε να πούμε με κάθε σιγουριά ότι κατά τη διάρκεια της εν λόγω δεκαετίας τέθηκαν οι βάσεις της ζωής που γνωρίζουμε και έχουμε όλοι μας σήμερα. Και την αναλογία αυτή μεταξύ του σήμερα και του τότε θα μας βοηθήσει να την κατανοήσουμε καλύτερα το εν λόγω βιβλίο, ένα ευχάριστο, ελαφρύ και ιστορικής χροιάς ανάγνωσμα.
Αναδημοσίευση από το Literature
Βέβαια, η αλήθεια είναι πως τα περισσότερα από τα γεγονότα που περιγράφονται στο βιβλίο αντιπροσωπεύουν ολάκερη τη δεκαετία του 1920 και γενικότερα τον κόσμο του Μεσοπολέμου και όχι μονάχα τη χρονιά του 1922. Όπως και να ‘χει όμως, ακόμη κι αν δεν συμφωνήσει κάποιος ότι το 1922 ήταν μία χρονιά που άλλαξε τον κόσμο, οφείλει να συμμορφωθεί με την κοινώς αποδεκτή πεποίθηση ότι η δεκαετία του 1920 ήταν μία δεκαετία κοσμοϊστορικών συμβάντων και αλλαγών, που ώθησε την υφήλιο ένα βήμα εγγύτερα στον Αρμαγεδώνα του Δευτέρου Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου και “ενοποίησε” κατά κάποιον τρόπο τον πολιτισμό της υφηλίου.
Κατά τη διάρκεια της παρούσης δεκαετίας σημειώθηκαν πολλές εξελίξεις στην αεροπλοΐα. Η δεκαετία του 1920 δικαίως αποκαλείται επίσης εποχή της τζαζ, μιας μουσικής που ξεκίνησε από τις ΗΠΑ και τελικά κατέκτησε τον κόσμο. Κατά την ίδια δεκαετία “άνθισε” η ρατσιστική οργάνωση Κου Κλουξ Κλαν στις ΗΠΑ και ο ρατσισμός κατά τον Αφροαμερικανών έφθασε στο αποκορύφωμά του στην ίδια χώρα. Υπήρχαν επίσης εξελίξεις στο ζήτημα της αυτονομίας της Βόρειας Ιρλανδίας μέσω της δράσης του ΙRΑ, του παράνομου ιρλανδικού απελευθερωτικού στρατού.
Ειδικότερα τώρα στο έτος 1922, η Καταστροφή της Σμύρνης, αλλά και το ουσιαστικό τέλος της Οθωμανικής Αυτοκρατορίας και η μετατροπή της σε εθνικό κράτος υπήρξε γεγονός μεγίστης σημασίας, όχι μονάχα για την Ελλάδα, αλλά για ολόκληρη την ανατολική Μεσόγειο. Το έτος 1922 σηματοδότησε το τέλος της δράσης του θρυλικού Αλ Καπόνε και εκδόθηκε το σημαντικό μυθιστόρημα Οδυσσέας του Ιρλανδού Τζέιμς Τζόις, όπως και το Σαβουάρ Βιβρ της Έμιλι Ποστ, δημιουργήθηκε το BBC και πραγματοποιήθηκε η πρώτη επιτυχής πτώση με αλεξίπτωτο από αεροσκάφος. Ακόμη, κατά το ίδιο έτος η παντοδυναμία της Βρετανικής Αυτοκρατορίας άρχισε να παρουσιάζει τριγμούς, έγινε η πρώτη ένεση ινσουλίνης σε διαβητικό και ο περίφημος τάφος του Τουταγχαμών ήρθε στο φως.
Μέσα από τις σελίδες του βιβλίου ξεδιπλώνονται μπροστά στα μάτια του αναγνώστη όλες οι καθημερινές συνήθειες των ανθρώπων του Μεσοπολέμου-οι διατροφικές τους συνήθειες, η διασκέδαση και τα αναγνώσματά τους, η μουσική και η μόδα τους, καθώς και οι πεποιθήσεις τους.
Πολιτικά, καλλιτεχνικά, λογοτεχνικά, αθλητικά, επιστημονικά και κοινωνικά γεγονότα, όλα έχουν τη θέση τους στις σελίδες του βιβλίου, το οποίο χωρίζεται σε δώδεκα κεφάλαια, ένα για κάθε μήνα του έτους.
Ίσως, λοιπόν, να είναι υπερβολή αν πούμε ότι το έτος 1922 ήταν το έτος που άλλαξε τον κόσμο. Γενικεύοντας όμως, μέσα από το βιβλίο του Rennison, μπορούμε να πούμε με κάθε σιγουριά ότι κατά τη διάρκεια της εν λόγω δεκαετίας τέθηκαν οι βάσεις της ζωής που γνωρίζουμε και έχουμε όλοι μας σήμερα. Και την αναλογία αυτή μεταξύ του σήμερα και του τότε θα μας βοηθήσει να την κατανοήσουμε καλύτερα το εν λόγω βιβλίο, ένα ευχάριστο, ελαφρύ και ιστορικής χροιάς ανάγνωσμα.
Αναδημοσίευση από το Literature
June 30, 2022
A century from now, scenes from 2022 will be recounted - the infamous, the transformative, the offensive, and the mundane - and it will read much the same as 1922. Singular events will form a collective impression of what it must have felt like to be alive in such a time.
We are all, always, living in interesting times. The parallels between 1922 and 2022 are never forced here but surface all the same. Pandemics, politics, headliners, inventions, empires are among the varied topics covered month by month, though this is far from an academic accounting of this seminal year in a seminal decade. You may find yourself wandering down historical rabbit holes prompted by the snapshots presented - no single entry is designed to exhaust the historical record.
p.s. I'll shamelessly admit this book's Mondrian-esque jacket design hooked me. Chef's kiss
We are all, always, living in interesting times. The parallels between 1922 and 2022 are never forced here but surface all the same. Pandemics, politics, headliners, inventions, empires are among the varied topics covered month by month, though this is far from an academic accounting of this seminal year in a seminal decade. You may find yourself wandering down historical rabbit holes prompted by the snapshots presented - no single entry is designed to exhaust the historical record.
p.s. I'll shamelessly admit this book's Mondrian-esque jacket design hooked me. Chef's kiss
April 5, 2022
Wow, its exactly 100 years after the events highlighted in the book!
The book leaves you thinking how far have we really progressed as a society.
The book written in a purely informative matter is succinct, to the point and it piques your fascination.
From football to internal and foreign politics, from hollywood to the concept of crime, from health crisis to the conceptualisation of the BBC, the book has it all.
1922, like the 2020-2022s seemed to be a very busy year. Given that im so bad with dates, im pretty sure Ill remember the year atleast of key events that shaped us, as a society.
The book leaves you thinking how far have we really progressed as a society.
The book written in a purely informative matter is succinct, to the point and it piques your fascination.
From football to internal and foreign politics, from hollywood to the concept of crime, from health crisis to the conceptualisation of the BBC, the book has it all.
1922, like the 2020-2022s seemed to be a very busy year. Given that im so bad with dates, im pretty sure Ill remember the year atleast of key events that shaped us, as a society.
June 12, 2025
A excellent little book of some the events of 1922
January 8, 2023
Fab run through of history and politics, film and gossip from 100 years ago. Even mentioned Brooklands and Weybridge! Love when local history is in a global book.
February 14, 2022
Kaleidoscopic rush through 1922. Entertaining.
August 3, 2021
With this kaleidoscopic review of 1922, the main entrance to the Roaring Twenties, the author offers us an engrossing and very multifaceted approach to a pivotal year situated four long years after the end of one of the bloodiest and destructive conflicts the World has ever known in contemporary history.
Compelling & entertaining, this rollicking journey will take you through twelve eventful months in history, politics and culture with lots of fascinating details & engaging protagonists as a very bruised and shattered World starts to slowly but surely recover from its wounds and steadfastly tries to get back on tracks after the long and rather tumultuous maelstrom of the postwar years.
A brilliant and unusual tapestry of a remarkable year to be enjoyed without any moderation.
Let's hope now that 2022 will turn out to be a little bit more sedate. One can only hope🤞
Many thanks to Netgalley and Oldcastle for this terrific ARC
Compelling & entertaining, this rollicking journey will take you through twelve eventful months in history, politics and culture with lots of fascinating details & engaging protagonists as a very bruised and shattered World starts to slowly but surely recover from its wounds and steadfastly tries to get back on tracks after the long and rather tumultuous maelstrom of the postwar years.
A brilliant and unusual tapestry of a remarkable year to be enjoyed without any moderation.
Let's hope now that 2022 will turn out to be a little bit more sedate. One can only hope🤞
Many thanks to Netgalley and Oldcastle for this terrific ARC
November 22, 2021
1922 was a busy year. Nothing stood still. Great change was on the horizon and new ways of thinking, new art and music forms were breaking through, the film industry was pushing through its scandals and experiencing growth. It wasn't only in the arts that things were changing, the shape of countries was also changing as well as their politics as well as leaders who had ideals, inspired from the past and their 1922 present. Nick Rennison in his book about this year informs in an interesting snippets that make me think of newsreel articles in some ways. Each part isn't overly long and yet has enough depth to pique interest and there are many events that occurred that readers may not know about this period of history. Each part, as well as being short is split into each month of the year.
This is a book that people ought to read as the impact is everlasting. By impact I don't mean it is all negative, there's positives too. It shows more that each year doesn't live in isolation of the year previous or what comes after.
There is clearly a lot of research in documenting a lot of what happened in 1922 and then to write it in a way that doesn't feel too text book like and is actually interesting enough to make you continue reading past the first pages to find out what else happened from the well-known and the perhaps lesser-known.
The book tells a bit of The Spanish Flu and its effects, which no doubt will bring people to think about the present times (at time of writing this blog post). It also documents the deaths for many reasons - from illness to assassination, of prominent people such as Shackleton, Alexander Graham Bell and more. There are people who I certainly haven't heard of and yet made an impact on the world and there are many people who I have heard of who also have made a lasting impact on the world. The book respectfully tells the truth about them and means people aren't forever forgotten about, whether they were good people or not.
There are a number of murders woven into months where there was better news such as the emergence of people who were to become sportstars and film stars of their time and their achievements as well as all the above in the blurb and so much more...
There is also political turmoil in a few countries in the world, including Russia, China, Italy as Fascist (far right) and Communist (far left) had emerged and getting stronger, especially Communism. It's interesting for those who don't know some of the smaller details that had a huge impact and both exist today, sometimes strong and powerful, some politicians on the edges and getting closer to far right or far left politics in the world. The countries still don't stand still as the fall of empires occur and near the end of the year, the formation of the USSR.
Jazz had emerged and the Roaring Twenties was starting to really flow and The Jazz Age had well and truly arrived and the changing dancing styles as older figurations of dancing started to completely transform into something more energetic and, considered by some, quite outrageous.
This is a book that will interest people who like history, are interested in the 1920's or just wondering what was happening in 1922 to expand their knowledge. There's something in it for all adults as so much was happening that lots of wider topics such as music, film, politics, famous people are covered and so much more... There is much people of any age can learn about.
This is a book that people ought to read as the impact is everlasting. By impact I don't mean it is all negative, there's positives too. It shows more that each year doesn't live in isolation of the year previous or what comes after.
There is clearly a lot of research in documenting a lot of what happened in 1922 and then to write it in a way that doesn't feel too text book like and is actually interesting enough to make you continue reading past the first pages to find out what else happened from the well-known and the perhaps lesser-known.
The book tells a bit of The Spanish Flu and its effects, which no doubt will bring people to think about the present times (at time of writing this blog post). It also documents the deaths for many reasons - from illness to assassination, of prominent people such as Shackleton, Alexander Graham Bell and more. There are people who I certainly haven't heard of and yet made an impact on the world and there are many people who I have heard of who also have made a lasting impact on the world. The book respectfully tells the truth about them and means people aren't forever forgotten about, whether they were good people or not.
There are a number of murders woven into months where there was better news such as the emergence of people who were to become sportstars and film stars of their time and their achievements as well as all the above in the blurb and so much more...
There is also political turmoil in a few countries in the world, including Russia, China, Italy as Fascist (far right) and Communist (far left) had emerged and getting stronger, especially Communism. It's interesting for those who don't know some of the smaller details that had a huge impact and both exist today, sometimes strong and powerful, some politicians on the edges and getting closer to far right or far left politics in the world. The countries still don't stand still as the fall of empires occur and near the end of the year, the formation of the USSR.
Jazz had emerged and the Roaring Twenties was starting to really flow and The Jazz Age had well and truly arrived and the changing dancing styles as older figurations of dancing started to completely transform into something more energetic and, considered by some, quite outrageous.
This is a book that will interest people who like history, are interested in the 1920's or just wondering what was happening in 1922 to expand their knowledge. There's something in it for all adults as so much was happening that lots of wider topics such as music, film, politics, famous people are covered and so much more... There is much people of any age can learn about.
October 4, 2021
This short book filled with “factoid” anecdotal events from 1922 with a culture heavy Western (UK, Ireland and the USA) bias might be dismissed as trivial, if it were not so educational and fun. This is not at all the type of detail heavy history book that I usually read, but it is wonderfully informative and interesting.
Despite its brevity, there are a few entries that appear to add nothing to our understanding of living in 1922, such as the death of a pope and election of his successor, which is completely unremarkable, and the accidental killing of Vladmir Nabokov’s father in a failed assassination attempt. The article that takes the prize here though is the entry that starts “May. The cricket season begins in England.”
The historical stories are enlivened by humour where appropriate, such as the following about radio and the formation of the BBC: “When (a famous opera singer) arrived at the Marconi works, it soon became clear that Dame Nellie (Melba) had little notion of how radio worked. She was taken on a tour by a proud employee who pointed out the 140-foot tall transmitters, from the top of which her voice would be broadcast to listeners around the world. ‘Young man,’ she boomed in reply, ‘if you think I’m going to climb up there, you are very much mistaken.’”
A useful short bibliography is provided,with an acknowledgment to Robert Grave’s social history of Britain in the inter-war years, The Long Weekend, which perhaps provided an inspiration for the style of this book.
Overall, being easy, fun and informative, this book gives an entertainingly kaleidoscopic impression of 1922, providing the reader with contemporary tabloid sensations and sporting highlights, but also detailing the truly historic political and cultural events of the time, whose importance might only be recognised with hindsight.
I received a Netgalley copy of this book, but this review is my honest opinion.
Despite its brevity, there are a few entries that appear to add nothing to our understanding of living in 1922, such as the death of a pope and election of his successor, which is completely unremarkable, and the accidental killing of Vladmir Nabokov’s father in a failed assassination attempt. The article that takes the prize here though is the entry that starts “May. The cricket season begins in England.”
The historical stories are enlivened by humour where appropriate, such as the following about radio and the formation of the BBC: “When (a famous opera singer) arrived at the Marconi works, it soon became clear that Dame Nellie (Melba) had little notion of how radio worked. She was taken on a tour by a proud employee who pointed out the 140-foot tall transmitters, from the top of which her voice would be broadcast to listeners around the world. ‘Young man,’ she boomed in reply, ‘if you think I’m going to climb up there, you are very much mistaken.’”
A useful short bibliography is provided,with an acknowledgment to Robert Grave’s social history of Britain in the inter-war years, The Long Weekend, which perhaps provided an inspiration for the style of this book.
Overall, being easy, fun and informative, this book gives an entertainingly kaleidoscopic impression of 1922, providing the reader with contemporary tabloid sensations and sporting highlights, but also detailing the truly historic political and cultural events of the time, whose importance might only be recognised with hindsight.
I received a Netgalley copy of this book, but this review is my honest opinion.
October 24, 2025
1922 is a great for this kind of treatment. The great war had ended. The modern world was just starting to emerge. America was just beginning to be the most important country in the world.
Rennison goes month by month picking out stories that are significant, not necessarily in 1922, but for the impact on the future.
- Walt Disney, age 21, releases his first animated cartoons for Laugh-O-Gram Films in Kansas City.
-On May 17, 1922, the world land speed record of 124 MPH gets shattered by Kenneth Lee Guiness, driving a Sunbeam HP 300 car. He gets up to 133 MPH.
-On February 2, 1922, James Joyce's "Ulysses" is published by Shakespeare and Company Publishers in France. The Sporting Times in Ireland reviews it and say that it is "enough to make a Hottentot sick.". Virginia Wolfe thought it was "the work of a queasy undergraduate scratching his pimples."
-At 6:30 PM on August 4, 1922, every phone in America goes dead for one minute as a tribute to Alexander Graham Bell who died on August 2, 1922.
-In July of 1922 Ernest Hemingway and Ezra Pound had a boxing match. Hemingway won.
The book is full of interesting stories and vignettes. I was disappointed that neither H. L. Mencken nor G. K. Chesterton make an appearance. They are two of my favorites who were influential in 1922.
This is the best type of high-class gossip.
(This is a book published in England, which shows a few times. For example, Babe Ruth was being heckled by a spectator during a game. Rennison reports that Ruth "left the pitch and set off in pursuit of him". Americans don't leave the "pitch" to chase a spectator.)
Rennison goes month by month picking out stories that are significant, not necessarily in 1922, but for the impact on the future.
- Walt Disney, age 21, releases his first animated cartoons for Laugh-O-Gram Films in Kansas City.
-On May 17, 1922, the world land speed record of 124 MPH gets shattered by Kenneth Lee Guiness, driving a Sunbeam HP 300 car. He gets up to 133 MPH.
-On February 2, 1922, James Joyce's "Ulysses" is published by Shakespeare and Company Publishers in France. The Sporting Times in Ireland reviews it and say that it is "enough to make a Hottentot sick.". Virginia Wolfe thought it was "the work of a queasy undergraduate scratching his pimples."
-At 6:30 PM on August 4, 1922, every phone in America goes dead for one minute as a tribute to Alexander Graham Bell who died on August 2, 1922.
-In July of 1922 Ernest Hemingway and Ezra Pound had a boxing match. Hemingway won.
The book is full of interesting stories and vignettes. I was disappointed that neither H. L. Mencken nor G. K. Chesterton make an appearance. They are two of my favorites who were influential in 1922.
This is the best type of high-class gossip.
(This is a book published in England, which shows a few times. For example, Babe Ruth was being heckled by a spectator during a game. Rennison reports that Ruth "left the pitch and set off in pursuit of him". Americans don't leave the "pitch" to chase a spectator.)
July 8, 2022
"1922" is not a book meant to be academic, so it's not a deep dive into the year in question, full of foot notes and such. It's fun and easy to read, and offers more of a taster of what was going on around the world. There's a list at the back of the book if you want to learn more.
It's fascinating how many things happened in that one year that we still know about today. Like, the Irish Civil War, that started. They found Tutankhamun's grave - who hasn't heard of Tutankhamun these days? The Soviet Union was founded, and so on. Things that have reverberated through time. Other things are more specialist knowledge, admittedly, but is interesting to read about regardless.
The book is split into twelve chapters, one for each month. It starts off with a little summary and then gives you a chronological run-down of events in that month. Some are only about a half-page long, others run for several pages, because they need more context, or there's simply much more to say about them. At times I would have wished for something to have been expanded on that wasn't, but you can't have everything.
It's about events all over the world as well, so it isn't about just one country. 2022 has so far turned out to be eventful, but mostly for all the wrong reasons, so it's nice to be able to read about a time when life was simpler. I don't know if 1923 was as fascinating, but if Nick Rennison would write a sequel, I'm more than happy to read that one as well.
It's fascinating how many things happened in that one year that we still know about today. Like, the Irish Civil War, that started. They found Tutankhamun's grave - who hasn't heard of Tutankhamun these days? The Soviet Union was founded, and so on. Things that have reverberated through time. Other things are more specialist knowledge, admittedly, but is interesting to read about regardless.
The book is split into twelve chapters, one for each month. It starts off with a little summary and then gives you a chronological run-down of events in that month. Some are only about a half-page long, others run for several pages, because they need more context, or there's simply much more to say about them. At times I would have wished for something to have been expanded on that wasn't, but you can't have everything.
It's about events all over the world as well, so it isn't about just one country. 2022 has so far turned out to be eventful, but mostly for all the wrong reasons, so it's nice to be able to read about a time when life was simpler. I don't know if 1923 was as fascinating, but if Nick Rennison would write a sequel, I'm more than happy to read that one as well.
October 18, 2021
1922: Scenes from a Turbulent Year is quick-fire history, the past related in bite-size chunks, month by month through one year. In many ways, it's a great format for a popular history book: Rennison covers a lot of ground and packs in some really interesting facts. I enjoyed the contrast of headline stories - be they from sport or science, art or politics - and I got swept up in the zeitgeist of the 1920s.
On the other hand, a lot of context has been sacrificed to keep this book light and concise, and certain themes and countries (US, UK and Ireland in particular) are explored more than others. I think it definitely helps if you have a reasonable general knowledge of twentieth century Western history before you pick up this book, and there were quite a few names and events I wanted to dig deeper into after I'd put it down.
A welcome addition to popular history, and a fitting way to reflect on 100 years of history as we approach 2022.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
On the other hand, a lot of context has been sacrificed to keep this book light and concise, and certain themes and countries (US, UK and Ireland in particular) are explored more than others. I think it definitely helps if you have a reasonable general knowledge of twentieth century Western history before you pick up this book, and there were quite a few names and events I wanted to dig deeper into after I'd put it down.
A welcome addition to popular history, and a fitting way to reflect on 100 years of history as we approach 2022.
*Thank you to Netgalley for the arc in exchange for an honest review*
October 30, 2021
Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.
This is such a fascinating book. I didn’t think it would be my kind of thing at all really, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn’t realise 1922 was such a busy year, which so much being repeated nearly 100 years later (global pandemic anyone?)
It grabbed me straight from the beginning, opening with the trials of Fatty Arbuckle and going on to book publications and controversies, the fall of Empires, prohibition, war, movies, and historical discoveries. It covers nearly every basis and it’s got a bit of something for everyone.
There’s not too much information to be overwhelming, but it gives you enough to interest you and entertain you, and then you could go and look it up if you want to learn more.
This is such a fascinating book. I didn’t think it would be my kind of thing at all really, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn’t realise 1922 was such a busy year, which so much being repeated nearly 100 years later (global pandemic anyone?)
It grabbed me straight from the beginning, opening with the trials of Fatty Arbuckle and going on to book publications and controversies, the fall of Empires, prohibition, war, movies, and historical discoveries. It covers nearly every basis and it’s got a bit of something for everyone.
There’s not too much information to be overwhelming, but it gives you enough to interest you and entertain you, and then you could go and look it up if you want to learn more.
September 25, 2021
I love facts and information and this book provides plenty of both. Set out in almanac style with each month getting its own chapter it is packed with fascinating information about the people and the times. And also some pretty horrifying Ku Klux Klan behaviour. We haven't come far in the last 100 hundred years when you realise what was going on back then. Global in focus and broad in depth but a reader's book rather than a historian's, it is a quick and easy read and would make a great Christmas present although I see that the planned publication date has been delayed to March 2022. With thanks to NetGalley, the publishers and the author for an e-ARC of this title in exchange for an honest review.
November 15, 2021
Told as a series of stories occurring in each month, 1922 covers a wide range of subjects, from the political and aeronautical to sport and entertainment, along with the discovery of a certain tomb in Egypt. It was all going on a century ago – the list of notable events is astonishing perhaps even rivalling 1492. It’s filled with household names from all over the world but with a US and UK bent.
Nick Rennison has achieved a good mixture of the serious and salacious. Many of the stories hold enough interest to warrant a book to themselves. Here, though, they tantalise briefly before we’re on to the next. But that does make it a perfect book to dip in and out of (or perhaps to read a month at a time then follow up with a trip down an internet rabbit hole to find out more).
Nick Rennison has achieved a good mixture of the serious and salacious. Many of the stories hold enough interest to warrant a book to themselves. Here, though, they tantalise briefly before we’re on to the next. But that does make it a perfect book to dip in and out of (or perhaps to read a month at a time then follow up with a trip down an internet rabbit hole to find out more).
April 17, 2022
Είναι μια χρονιά γεμάτη σημαντικά γεγονότα που διαβάζοντας τα καταλαβα οτι τα περισσότερα τα αγνοούσα ενώ όσα ήξερα δε γνωριζα ότι εκτυλίχθηκαν το 1922. Κάποιες αναφορές σε γεγονότα της περιοδου τις λάτρεψα, κυρίως για τον καλλιτεχνικό κόσμο και ειδικότερα για τον Φράνσις Σκοτ Φιτζεραλντ. Αλλά και άλλα πολλά όπως τον τάφο του Τουταγχαμών, ίδρυση της Σοβιετικής Ένωσης, μικρασιατική καταστροφή, πτώση της Οθωμανικής αυτοκρατορίας, ο Αϊνστάιν κερδίζει το Νόμπελ και πολλά πολλά ακομη. Το βιβλίο είναι χωρισμένο σε κάθε μήνα του έτους και αναλύει χρονολογικά όλα αυτά τα γεγονότα. Έμαθα πολλά, παρά πολλά και θεωρώ ότι μέσα από κάποια γεγονότα του τόσο μακρινου παρελθοντος περνάει μηνύματα και για σημερινές καταστάσεις και πολυ το εκτίμησα!! Διαβάστε το και αφεθείτε στις γνώσεις του.
September 23, 2021
I should first admit that I think I may have clicked on this book by mistake. However, it was a serendipitous mistake as I found it enjoyable and fascinating.
The year 1922 packed a lot into itself. From Hollywood scandals, to the urge to break speed records; from scientific advances to the publication of major works; from political ineptness to violent racism; 1922 had it all. Some of the topics I knew about already, others I had an inkling of, but many I had not ever heard of. An education in brief.
It's a book to dip in and out of really - and for that a paperback copy would be necessary. An ideal stocking filler for fact magpies perhaps.
The year 1922 packed a lot into itself. From Hollywood scandals, to the urge to break speed records; from scientific advances to the publication of major works; from political ineptness to violent racism; 1922 had it all. Some of the topics I knew about already, others I had an inkling of, but many I had not ever heard of. An education in brief.
It's a book to dip in and out of really - and for that a paperback copy would be necessary. An ideal stocking filler for fact magpies perhaps.
January 22, 2022
I thoroughly enjoyed reading 1922. Each chapter is a month in the year, giving snapshots into events across the political, social, economic and cultural landscape. It jumps across nations and at that time empires as well. Consequently, providing insight into the thinking and people's of the time - some you may have heard of. This is a great introduction and there's a lot of scope for the reader to delve deeper into areas of particular interest elsewhere (starting with the bibliography). I'd definitely read more of Nick Rennison's work and would welcome similar tiles.
May 24, 2022
Thank you NetGalley and OldCastle books for the chance to read and review this book!
1922 is a short but interesting read that really sums up what the year 1922 would have felt like to someone living through it! It's interesting how much racial violence came up in the book.
I don't think a reader will find everything included in this book interesting, that being said I would give it to anyone who likes history because Nick Rennison is a good writer.
Of course, I did feel like the book focused on some countries more than others.
1922 is a short but interesting read that really sums up what the year 1922 would have felt like to someone living through it! It's interesting how much racial violence came up in the book.
I don't think a reader will find everything included in this book interesting, that being said I would give it to anyone who likes history because Nick Rennison is a good writer.
Of course, I did feel like the book focused on some countries more than others.
October 30, 2023
This was an interesting read, a book perfectly constructed to dip in and out of as the author writes of the numerous significant events that occurred in this year of 1922 , now more than a distant memory in the past.
The author explains that this book was not intended as a history book as such - there is not room to explain in detail the many important events that took place and indeed many of the short threads sent me off reading elsewhere for more detail.
There is a nice mix of the world changing and more fleeting events and this made for an interesting and illuminating read
The author explains that this book was not intended as a history book as such - there is not room to explain in detail the many important events that took place and indeed many of the short threads sent me off reading elsewhere for more detail.
There is a nice mix of the world changing and more fleeting events and this made for an interesting and illuminating read
January 23, 2023
I guess "history repeats itself" is sort of the trite, canned response to reading about what happened around the globe 100 years ago. But, yeah, it's kind of true: It's hard not to feel a sense of deja vu when reading about the events described in "Scenes From a Turbulent Year."
The year brought feats of athleticism (Babe Ruth, who signed a 3-year contract with the Yankees for a record $52k annually, French tennis player Suzanne Lenglen, maybe the first female athlete to become a global celebrity, swimmer Johnny Weissmuller), Hollywood scandals (comic actor Fatty Arbuckle, charged with rape, declared not guilty but ruined professionally), technological disasters (the explosion of the airship Roma in Norfolks, Va., resulting in the death of 34 people, including its captain, celebrated World War I aviator Dale Mabry, for whom a major Tampa highway was named), upticks in racism (attacks on blacks by the KKK), social protests (the trial of Gandhi in India, for "sedition"), political chicanery (the Teapot Dome scandal of President Warren G. Harding, a dimwit and womanizer whose campaign slogan had been "return to normalcy" -- sound familiar?), the doings of famous or soon-to-be-famous authors (F. Scott Fitzerald, Ernest Hemingway, Willa Cather, Edith Wharton, Sinclair Lewis), notorious killing sprees (the murder of six people on a family farm in Bavaria).
Author Nick Rennison, a British writer and editor whose books cover a wide range of topics, including Freud, Robin Hood and Polar exploration, has also written crime fiction novels set in the 19th Century. "Scenes," more "popular" than scholarly, offers a series of Way Back snapshots collected in 12 easy digestible chapters, each devoted to a particular month in 1922. It's an approach to history that makes for a breezy and accessible read. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
The year brought feats of athleticism (Babe Ruth, who signed a 3-year contract with the Yankees for a record $52k annually, French tennis player Suzanne Lenglen, maybe the first female athlete to become a global celebrity, swimmer Johnny Weissmuller), Hollywood scandals (comic actor Fatty Arbuckle, charged with rape, declared not guilty but ruined professionally), technological disasters (the explosion of the airship Roma in Norfolks, Va., resulting in the death of 34 people, including its captain, celebrated World War I aviator Dale Mabry, for whom a major Tampa highway was named), upticks in racism (attacks on blacks by the KKK), social protests (the trial of Gandhi in India, for "sedition"), political chicanery (the Teapot Dome scandal of President Warren G. Harding, a dimwit and womanizer whose campaign slogan had been "return to normalcy" -- sound familiar?), the doings of famous or soon-to-be-famous authors (F. Scott Fitzerald, Ernest Hemingway, Willa Cather, Edith Wharton, Sinclair Lewis), notorious killing sprees (the murder of six people on a family farm in Bavaria).
Author Nick Rennison, a British writer and editor whose books cover a wide range of topics, including Freud, Robin Hood and Polar exploration, has also written crime fiction novels set in the 19th Century. "Scenes," more "popular" than scholarly, offers a series of Way Back snapshots collected in 12 easy digestible chapters, each devoted to a particular month in 1922. It's an approach to history that makes for a breezy and accessible read. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
April 13, 2025
A fascinating month by month review of 1922, so well written and engaging.
It is over 100 years ago now, and whilst so much is different, so much is the same. We have of course new discoveries to make, but human nature with its beautiful and dark sides find similar expressions.
The scenes from a turbulent year, I will leave you to discover, but say that it does also bring to mind your own turbulent scenes from more recent times, and bids you to compare. Well done Nick Rennison.
It is over 100 years ago now, and whilst so much is different, so much is the same. We have of course new discoveries to make, but human nature with its beautiful and dark sides find similar expressions.
The scenes from a turbulent year, I will leave you to discover, but say that it does also bring to mind your own turbulent scenes from more recent times, and bids you to compare. Well done Nick Rennison.
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