Comments on: The Era of Misbehaving

By: Errant Aesthete

Errant Aesthete — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:09:56 +0000

My guess would be this topic is attracting interest with the release this year of Taylor’s book “Bright Young People,” which I’m currently reading. The author was given access to the papers, memorabilia and photographs of Elizabeth Ponsonby, which forms the heart of his narrative and provides some new insights.

By: John Agee Paris

John Agee Paris — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:04:23 +0000

I know they were shameless and shallow dilletantes, but they were absolutely marvelous at it. Why does it seem that our times aren’t as fun? My merry little band of friends and I manage to pull off our share of chic good times and frivolity, but I get the distinct feeling sometimes that we’re in the minority.

As usual, you hit it out of the park as far as subject matter goes. Looking forward to more wonderful posts from you!

By: R de W

R de W — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:33:57 +0000

What a coincidence! There was a BBC documentary (they’re doing a fantastic 1920′s series at the moment) on this very group just a week or two ago. I watched it through twice the same evening. Like other posters I’ve been fascinated with them since I visited a Stephen Tennant exhibition shortly after he died. And yet, I think you’re spot-on when you describe them as ‘joyless’. Almost impossible to believe when you see those ghostly, glamorous images that one of the regulars, Zita Jungmann died only in 2006 & so far as I know her sister Baby Jungmann is not gone yet.

By: California Girl

California Girl — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 20:27:43 +0000

I’ve always been fascinated by this era, particularly the American group including Scott & Zelda, the Algonquin group, the ex-pats in Europe and so forth. Pretty sure I’d have died an alcoholic reprobate had I been part of any of those groups. But, they had to have some talent or social standing to participate so…

Well written critique and the photos are great.

By: Errant Aesthete

Errant Aesthete — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:49:50 +0000

Mrs. B,

At least one reviewer from the Independent concurs with your assessment, saying that Waugh’s Vile Bodies “pale into insignificance,” compared to Taylor’s account. And the The Sunday Times of London rendered this on Bright Young People, “Shrewd and absorbing in his analysis of the way Waugh and Nancy Mildord…promoted the world they would soon skewer in fiction.”

By: Errant Aesthete

Errant Aesthete — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:31:37 +0000

Your comments on this particular genre always make me smile. There is something to be said for consummate shallowness and shameless self promotion and this crowd certainly perfected the art of it.

I just picked up the book at the iibrary and it looks quite good. Paging through it, there were other references up front before the contents by other writers who, at one time or another, had commented on the BYP. A brief excerpt from something entitled Odd Man Out by Douglas Goldring, 1935:

“Brought up in a dishonored world, without the salutary criticism of their fathers and elder brothers, these irresponsibles and their female counterparts, started a “wild party” which lasted as long as their money did. Finding the gossip writers ready to paragraph their antics they called themselves “Bright Young People,” popularized gate-crashing, took drugs, indulged or pretended to indulge in unnatural vices, and drove their cars about at high speed, when under the influence of drink, in the hope, if there was a smash, that the case would be reported in the Sunday newspapers. … ”

Ah, but as we well know in these storied lives, tragedy is always nearby. Goldring conclues with this:

“Time has dealt harshly with many of them.”

By: Easy and Elegant Life

Easy and Elegant Life — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 16:25:01 +0000

What a leap my heart took when I saw the title and lead photo! Fine on a day that I am losing to a creeping headcold. Thanks!

“In life they were, in the main, insolent, hedonistic, and, despite inner melancholy, deeply and aggressively shallow.” Exactly the sort of thing I’m going for… deep and aggressive shallowness… got the rest about down. Perfect description and it made me chuckle. Have you seen the photo where they took over a construction site in Piccadilly after a fancy dress party? Priceless looks on the workers’ faces.

Like Mrs. B., as obsessed as I am with that generation, “Vile Bodies” and “Decline and Fall” were difficult for me to connect with. Maybe I’ll give them both another stab as it’s been two decades since I read them.

Just ordered the book (hope you get credit.)

Mrs. B., “The Brideshead Generation” by Carpenter will give you good backgrounds on the main players of the era.

By: Mrs. Blandings

Mrs. Blandings — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 23:28:27 +0000

While I have been obsessed with this crew over the last year or so, I read Vile Bodies and did not feel it held up. For all the reasons you mention above. It surprised me that Waugh was its author so distinctly different did it seem from Brideshead.