The gruelling years between the First World War and the beginning of the depression are times people have discussed in abundance for more than five decades. However, no one describes the crash of the unstable stock market and the invigorating boom years of the 1920s quite like Frederick Lewis Allen. Published in 1931, Only Yesterday: An Informal History of the 1920s gives readers a vibrant social history tracing America from 1918 to 1929, including the many defeats, scandals and triumphs of this difficult decade.

Only Yesterday deals with that delightful decade from the Armistice in November 1918 to the panic and depression of 1929-30. Here is the story of Woodrow Wilson's defeat, the Harding scandals, the Coolidge prosperity, the revolution in manners and morals, the bull market and its smash-up. Allen's lively narrative brings back an endless variety of half-forgotten events, fashions, crazes, and absurdities. Deftly written, with a humorous touch, Only Yesterday traces, beneath the excitements of day-to-day life in the 20s, those currents in national life and thought which are the essence of true history.

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 post-World 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 Allen''s vivid and definitive account of one of the 20th century''s most fascinating decades, chronicling a time of both joy and terror -- when dizzying highs were quickly succeeded by heartbreaking lows.

“A perfectly grand piece of historical record and synthetic journalism.” (Chicago Daily Tribune)

Prohibition. Al Capone. The President Harding scandals. The revolution of manners and morals, Black Teusday. These are only an inkling of the events and figures characterizing the wild, tumultuous era that was the Roaring Twentys. Origionaly published in 1931, "Only Yesterday" traces the rise if post-World War I prospecritly up tothe Wall Street crash of 1929 aganst the colorful backdropof flappers, speakeasies, the first radio, and the scandalous rise of skirt hemlines. Hailed as an instant classic, this is Frederick Lewis Allen's vivid and definitive account of one of the twentieth century's most fascinating decades, chronicling a time of both joy and terror--when dizzing highs were quickly succeeded by heartbreaking lows.