A review by quietjenn
Bright Young People: The Rise and Fall of a Generation 1918-1940 by D.J. Taylor

2.0

Given the subject matter, it would be difficult not to write a readable, interesting book, no? But, if you aren't already an aficionado of the Bright Young Things, I don't think this would be a good introduction. You're better off reading Waugh or Mitford or Powell. The luxury of fiction is that one can cut out the boring bits ... This is not fiction and as a scholarly text, it can be a bit dry and snooze-inducing after a while. Also, the organization seemed somewhat disjointed - lots of jumping around - and too much reliance on certain figures - I assume because Taylor had cooperation from their families. I also wish the American version had the original cover (which is much better) and more pictures.
That being said, if you are a fan of the Bright Young Things/20s Brit lit already, it's great to learn about the real-life people behind the characters and even about specific events that gave inspiration to literature.