The Victory Album : Reflections on the Good Life after the Good War

A vivid and penetrating history, personal and social, of growing up in post-1945 America a A pervasive feeling at the end of World War II, notes Philip D. Beidler, was that Americans had OC inherited the earthOCO and could look forward to a kind of golden age, the OC Good Life after the Good War.OCO But this good lifeOCofor all its genuine possibilitiesOCowas only accessible to some and was countered by racial tensions, the fear of communism and nuclear war, gender inequalities, and a rising consumer culture, among other problems and anxieties. a In these essaysOCoa combination of personal remembrance and broad-stroke cultural historyOCoBeidler addresses the national blindness toward the Holocaust and a rising China, the canker of McCarthyism, an ascendant culture of hard smoking and heavy drinking, the worship of cars and film idols, and the chronic fear of an always-possible nuclear apocalypse. In lively, driving prose, he recalls veiled episodes in the history of the Korean War, the Civil Rights movement, and the struggle for womenOCOs liberation. On these subjects and many others, Beidler draws from his own experience and a penetrating grasp of American social history. Together, they offer deep, pointed, and comprehensive perspectives on iconic moments in American history.

A vivid and penetrating history, personal and social, of growing up in post-1945 America

 

A pervasive feeling at the end of World War II, notes Philip D. Beidler, was that Americans had “inherited the earth” and could look forward to a kind of golden age, the “Good Life after the Good War.” But this good life—for all its genuine possibilities—was only accessible to some and was countered by racial tensions, the fear of communism and nuclear war, gender inequalities, and a rising consumer culture, among other problems and anxieties.

 

In these essays—a combination of personal remembrance and broad-stroke cultural history—Beidler addresses the national blindness toward the Holocaust and a rising China, the canker of McCarthyism, an ascendant culture of hard smoking and heavy drinking, the worship of cars and film idols, and the chronic fear of an always-possible nuclear apocalypse. In lively, driving prose, he recalls veiled episodes in the history of the Korean War, the Civil Rights movement, and the struggle for women’s liberation. On these subjects and many others, Beidler draws from his own experience and a penetrating grasp of American social history. Together, they offer deep, pointed, and comprehensive perspectives on iconic moments in American history.

"A pervasive feeling at the end of World War II, notes Philip D. Beidler, was that Americans had "inherited the earth" and could look forward to a kind of golden age, the "Good Life after the Good War:" But this good life - for all its genuine possibilities - was only accessible to some and was countered by racial tensions, the fear of communism and nuclear war, gender inequalities, and a rising consumer culture, among other problems and anxieties." "In these essays - combinations of personal remembrance and broad-stroke cultural history - Beidler addresses the national blindness toward the Holocaust and a rising China, the canker of McCarthyism, an ascendant culture of hard smoking and heavy drinking, the worship of cars and film idols, and the chronic fear of an always-possible nuclear apocalypse. In lively, driving prose, he recalls veiled episodes in the history of the Korean War, the civil rights movement, and the struggle for women's liberation." "On these subjects and many Reds A credit to their race China magic A tale of two task forces How the Holocaust didn't become current events The war of the generals for the presidency Is this all? Name your poison Mastering the curriculum The fifty-fives The end of the world I was a 1950s teenage media junkie Remembering On the beach American the ecumenical It wasn't all Elvis Let's play Dien Bien Phu. Offers perspectives on iconic moments in American history. This title features essays that address the national blindness toward the Holocaust and a rising China, the canker of McCarthyism, an ascendant culture of hard smoking and heavy drinking, the worship of cars and film idols, and the chronic fear of an always-possible nuclear apocalypse. Others, Beidler draws from his own experience and a penetrating grasp of American social history. Together, they offer deep, pointed, and comprehensive perspectives on iconic moments in American history."--Jacket