Order from a Major Online Bookstore
Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine
Save Your Time And Money
| AnyBook4Less.com | Order from a Major Online Bookstore |
|
| Home | Store List | FAQ | Contact Us | | ||
| Ultimate Book Price Comparison Engine Save Your Time And Money |
||
 |
Title: Only Yesterday by Frederick Lewis Allen ISBN: 0060800046 Publisher: HarperCollins (paper) Pub. Date: June, 1957 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $8.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.67
Rating: 5
Summary: Crucial guide of the 1920s...the story starts with Allen!
Comment: Only Yesterday offers a glimpse into the nineteen twenties from someone who actually lived it. First published in 1931, Frederick Lewis Allen writes of a decade that had just past. Most historians will tell you that it takes about twenty years after a decade before you can truly come to terms with what the decade was all about. However, this was not the case with Frederick Lewis Allen's work. He was able to show the decade for what it was, a truly amazing accomplishment in 1931!
His purpose was to show future generations, what his generation considered important in defining their times. In doing so he helped create a bridge between his generation and future generations who would later conduct research on the 1920s. In fact, while studying this period one soon find out, most historical works on the 1920s site Only Yesterday in their bibliographies. In fact, a through and comprehensive study of this period is not possible unless it includes Frederick Lewis Allen's works.
Furthermore, Fredrick Lewis Allen attempted to record the social and cultural history of the times. In 1931 this was a new and different form of history. (Just about as radical as the 1920s.) Frederick Lewis Allen can be regarded as a pioneer social historian. Prior to his work most mainstream histories were based solely on politics and international affairs.
More than half of Only Yesterday is on social and cultural events, which is one of the strongest points in his book. With the exceptions of chapters two and six, "Back To Normalcy" and "Harding And The Scandals", Allen's writings are geared towards the common people and how events of the day and the cultural changes affected them. These events and cultural changes are clearly illustrated in chapters five, "The Revolution In Manners And Morals" and chapters eight, "The Ballyhoo Years". Allen was able to show his readers the major social/cultural events of the 1920s. An example is his coverage of the automobile and the "Red Scare" in the early years of the decade. Clearly his coverage of these two events are his strongest points.
His writing style deserves some mentioning. He writes in a style that allows for a multitude of readership interest areas: politics, social, cultural, industrial, religion and even sports. This is especially seen in his sometimes-humorous approach in covering certain topics. Another, great example of his writing abilities is his narrowing of a central point at the conclusion of his paragraph.
Despite his strengths in his writing and his coverage, something must be said regarding his lack of a bibliography. Without one, it weakens his work. When you find something interesting, you have no way of looking for sources. Furthermore, he was not able to pick up on the population changes taking place in the 1920s. Rural to urban population changes were not addressed, nor was the "great migration" of African American coming to northern cities addressed either. Today, one just need to be aware of these event in the 1920s, Allen in the 1930s just wasn't able, for whatever reason, to see the importance of these events.
Without any doubt, the strength of his work certainly out number his few weaknesses. I truly enjoy reading Allen's book. In the future I will revisit Allen's work for his superb writing style and his gift of narrowing his main points at the end of his paragraphs. A truly remarkable book!
Rating: 5
Summary: excellent
Comment: This history book is written in a pleasant, authoritative but laid-back manner that makes it a particularly enjoyable read. I concur with the reviewer who wrote that it is a great source of background information to the writer. It does have a nice immediacy to it; strange fads that are mentioned in an offhand way, with the assumption that the reader will already be familiar with them, only add to the charm. The last couple of chapters about the stock market are particularly interesting reading, particularly considering the bizarrely similar economic climate we are living in today. They are, thankfully, written in a straightforward and clear manner --- perfectly accessible to those of us who don't have an economics background. One beef with this paperback edition --- where are the lovely illustrations from the original addition?
Rating: 5
Summary: A charming, delightful book - this book sparkles!
Comment: Never had I read a "history" book with the charm this book has!
Written in this manner, history does not have to be a dry, dull boring subject. It also succeeds in teaching a valuable lesson - people never really change.
 |
Title: Franklin D Roosevelt And The New Deal by William E. Leuchtenburg ISBN: 0061330256 Publisher: Perennial Press Pub. Date: August, 1963 List Price(USD): $16.00 |
 |
Title: Since Yesterday : The 1930's in America, September 3, 1929 to September 3, 1939 by Frederick L. Allen ISBN: 0060913223 Publisher: Perennial Press Pub. Date: October, 1986 List Price(USD): $14.00 |
Thank you for visiting www.AnyBook4Less.com and enjoy your savings!
Copyright� 2001-2021 Send your comments
