One Summer: America, 1927 image number 0

A Chicago Tribune Noteworthy Book
A GoodReads Reader's Choice

The summer of 1927 began with Charles Lindbergh crossing the Atlantic. Meanwhile, Babe Ruth was closing in on the home run record. In Newark, New Jersey, Alvin "Shipwreck" Kelly sat atop a flagpole for twelve days, and in Chicago, the gangster Al Capone was tightening his grip on bootlegging. The first true "talking picture," Al Jolson's The Jazz Singer, was filmed, forever changing the motion picture industry.
All this and much, much more transpired in the year Americans attempted and accomplished outsized things--and when the twentieth century truly became the American century. One Summer transforms it all into narrative nonfiction of the highest order.

Item Information Item Information

Format: TradePaperback
Author: Bryson, Bill
ISBN: 9780767919418
Condition: Used
Dimensions: 7.90 x 1.20
Number Of Pages: 509
Publication Year: 2014

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Bryson fascinates us with the story of a turning-point year for America

Steve L. - 2 years 2 months ago

Bill Bryson, I think, is as reliable an author as they come. One Summer, in the tradition of Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything and At Home, loads us up with fun facts to know and tell, this time about 1927, a pivotal year in American history. He says that this was the year America really became the pre-eminent world culture-maker, and examines Charles Lindbergh, Babe Ruth, Calvin Coolidge, Als Jolson and Capone, and many others to make the point. Bryson's wonderful at exposing the hypocrisy, absurd eccentricities, and shortcomings of our heroes, and is just as fascinating when he lets us in on the essential contributions of the many lesser-known associates of the big names. I'd say there's an average of one stunning bit of information per page--and with a book that's well over 500 pages long, that's a treat!
HPB Staff Review
A subtly smart wedge of life

Jim F. - 4 years 11 months ago

Bill Bryson applies his seemingly effortless skills to one year in American history, blending Babe Ruth, Lindbergh, Capone, natural disasters, talkies, economic issues and much more incredibly smoothly. He pulls them all together in a way that shows how all things connect in some way, without drawing attention to it.
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One Summer: America, 1927

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Bryson fascinates us with the story of a turning-point year for America

A subtly smart wedge of life