Only Yesterday, Frederick Lewis Allen
Only Yesterday, Frederick Lewis Allen
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Only Yesterday
An Informal History of the 1920s

Author: Frederick Lewis Allen

Narrator: Grover Gardner

Unabridged: 11 hr 35 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 08/06/2010


Synopsis

Prohibition. Al Capone. The President Harding scandals. The revolution of manners and morals. Black Tuesday. These are only an inkling of the events and figures characterizing the wild, tumultuous era that was the Roaring Twenties. Originally published in 1931, Only Yesterday traces the rise of postWorld War I prosperity up to the Wall Street crash of 1929 against a colorful backdrop of flappers, speakeasies, the first radio, and the scandalous rise of skirt hemlines. Hailed as an instant classic, this is Frederick Lewis Allens vivid and definitive account of one of the twentieth centurys most fascinating decades, chronicling a time of both joy and terrorwhen dizzying highs were quickly succeeded by heartbreaking lows.

About Frederick Lewis Allen

Frederick Lewis Allen (1890-1954) was editor of Harper's Magazine from 1941 to 1954. His other books include The Great Pierpont Morgan, Since Yesterday, and The Lords of Creation.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Tripp on September 26, 2009

I have a bias against older nonfiction books as I don't think they age well. The evidence gets old, the arguments get settled or the style becomes out-dated and the read just isn't the same. Well, Frederick Allen Lewis sure showed me up. He wrote Only Yesterday in 1931 and it read like it was writte......more

Goodreads review by CoachJim on February 20, 2022

The nation was spiritually tired. Wearied by the excitements of the war and nervous tension of the Big Red Scare, they hoped for quiet and healing. Sick of Wilson and his talk of America’s duty to humanity, callous to political idealism, they hoped for a chance to pursue their private affairs withou......more

Goodreads review by Ron on February 17, 2013

A very thorough review of the very turbulent decade of the 1920s. As James Howard Kunstler said in a recent podcast (probably quoting somebody else), "History doesn't repeat itself, but it rhymes." We find a lot of "rhyming' with recent years in the story of the 1920s: starting the decade with a bli......more

Goodreads review by Kelley on January 31, 2023

Great quick reading history of the 1920s I have long wanted to read Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s. I am glad to have done it because what a good one it was. There is a good reason why it is still around since first being published in 1931. Allen had a breezy writing style that comb......more

Goodreads review by Sarah on July 03, 2019

What makes this history of the 1920's so fascinating is that it was published in 1931. This is no cold and bloodless text, no sentimental blue fog draped over the past. It feels immediate. It's very well written. And, yes, there are parallels. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear the author was in......more