Bright Young Things discussion

Who do you consider to be the main personalities in the BYT era? I wonder if we could set up a few topics in this folder for specific individuals that could be added to over time with information and biographies etc?

This occurred to me when I was looking to see if anyone had talked about Nancy Cunard - there are a few mentions in other threads but her own thread pulling all the information together would be useful I think.

Fitzgerald and Hemingway.

Evelyn Waugh symbolises the era for me...


https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

https://www.goodreads.com/group/comme...


Though also a nod in the direction of Anthony Powell...

https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Ruth wrote: "I was looking to see if anyone had talked about Nancy Cunard - there are a few mentions in other threads but her own thread pulling all the information together would be useful I think."

I don't know much about Nancy Cunnard and agree that a thread devoted to her would be very interesting and helpful

Good choices Nigeyb and Andrew. Nancy Cunard and Josephine Baker also.

I'll see what I can find out about Nancy Cunard and set up a thread when I've got time.

I would add Nancy Mitford, Diana Guinness, Harold Acton, Brian Howard...

Nancy Cunard: A Biography by Anne Chisholm is a good bio I read many years ago. I also picked up These Were the Hours: Memories of My Hours Press, Reanville and Paris, 1928-1931 earlier this year, but still unread in my stacks.

The Nancy Cunard biography are on my to read list. Thanks Miss M for your info.

Agree with Andrew's choices and Waugh. In America I would include those involved in the Algonquin Round Table - Harold Ross and The New Yorker, Dorothy Parker, George S. Kaufman, Alexander Woollcott, etc.

Can I suggest Stephen Tennant and Cyril Connelly?

Most of the people I thought of right away have been mentioned already. I'll have to think a bit. Maybe Cecil Beaton? The Murphys? I'll think. :)


I read a bit about Nancy Cunard in Flappers by Judith Mackrell. That's all I know of her though and I'd be hard pressed to remember much at this point.

Yes, definitely the Murphys.