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A review by eleven_hummingbird
Flappers and Philosophers by F. Scott Fitzgerald
4.0
A collection of youthful short stories that set off the career of the author of The Great Gatsby. These tales vary from adventure and romance to domestic drama and crime, all set in a post-war era of blossoming technological discovery, prohibition, social change, and economic disparity.
The Offshore Pirate is about a flapper who falls in love with the captain of a pirate crew of jazz musicians who commandeer her uncle’s yacht. This one was probably my favorite, just so sassy and fun.
The Ice Palace. A sort of horror story of a southern girl who regrets moving away with her new husband and, longing for summer, struggles adjusting to northern winter. A lot of Confederate romanticism not uncommon for this time.
Head and Shoulders follows a prodigal young man who excels at academics, who marries a stage performer who herself makes more money than he does. The twist is, who in their relationship is the head and who is the shoulders? Really fun perspective on the New Woman.
The Cut-Glass Bowl shifts tone and explores the relationship between people and objects with recurring tragedy.
Bernice Bobs Her Hair. And how! What a radical story for its time about a young girl who, taking advice from her cousin, goes from social outcast to the girl every boy loves! Bobbing her hair on a dare, she shocks everyone and finds courage and audacity no one, herself included, thought she had. Love this.
Benediction. Not really sure about this one. An incestuous story of a girl who visits her brother at a monastery and they fall in love. I don’t know.
Dalyrimple Goes Wrong. A narrative of a soldier who comes home after the war and grudgingly settles into the mediocrity of the working class. Disparaging at the established corruption and the certainty he will never gain promotion, he resorts to crime before suddenly being lofted into politics.
The Four Fists. The incidents of a young man who receives moral revelations thanks to being punched in the jaw, four times.
I really, really enjoyed these stories. I love the youth and romanticism of some of these, contrasted with the dreary, yet hopeful realities of others. They are very much tales from their time, which unfortunately means I cannot recommend them except to others who also enjoy this era for the sake of it. It's a different time with different language, values, and understandings. While the prose is delightful, the racism is not.
The Offshore Pirate is about a flapper who falls in love with the captain of a pirate crew of jazz musicians who commandeer her uncle’s yacht. This one was probably my favorite, just so sassy and fun.
The Ice Palace. A sort of horror story of a southern girl who regrets moving away with her new husband and, longing for summer, struggles adjusting to northern winter. A lot of Confederate romanticism not uncommon for this time.
Head and Shoulders follows a prodigal young man who excels at academics, who marries a stage performer who herself makes more money than he does. The twist is, who in their relationship is the head and who is the shoulders? Really fun perspective on the New Woman.
The Cut-Glass Bowl shifts tone and explores the relationship between people and objects with recurring tragedy.
Bernice Bobs Her Hair. And how! What a radical story for its time about a young girl who, taking advice from her cousin, goes from social outcast to the girl every boy loves! Bobbing her hair on a dare, she shocks everyone and finds courage and audacity no one, herself included, thought she had. Love this.
Benediction. Not really sure about this one. An incestuous story of a girl who visits her brother at a monastery and they fall in love. I don’t know.
Dalyrimple Goes Wrong. A narrative of a soldier who comes home after the war and grudgingly settles into the mediocrity of the working class. Disparaging at the established corruption and the certainty he will never gain promotion, he resorts to crime before suddenly being lofted into politics.
The Four Fists. The incidents of a young man who receives moral revelations thanks to being punched in the jaw, four times.
I really, really enjoyed these stories. I love the youth and romanticism of some of these, contrasted with the dreary, yet hopeful realities of others. They are very much tales from their time, which unfortunately means I cannot recommend them except to others who also enjoy this era for the sake of it. It's a different time with different language, values, and understandings. While the prose is delightful, the racism is not.