Among the Bohemians: Experiments in Living 1900-1939 – A Cultural History of England's Subversive Artists and Moral Pioneers

This book is very well written, entertaining and informative. I highly recommend it to everyone, even those not interested in the subject, as it speaks of an era that gave rise to a certain mindset about the need to experience hardship in order to create/

my only complaint is the type font is a bit small for my taste, but I can see if it was printed with a larger font the book would have been huge! After seeing the BBC produced Living in Squares I was anxious to learn more about this time period.

"Among the Bohemians" is a book that should be read by anyone who harbors bohemian tendencies. Most serious readers fall into this category, consciously or not, so the appeal of this book is guaranteed to be wide-spread. The bohemians that the author puts her reader among are mainly English, with a sprinkling of European and American expatriates. Everyone who reads this book will have their own favorite bohemian. The one who stood out for me was Augustus John, the painter, a charismatic character who was at the center of English bohemian life in the first half of the twentieth century. His great talent as an artist was more than matched by his Rabelaisian life-style, which included driving a horse-drawn gypsy caravan filled with children and a wife or two across England and a sexual vitality that drew innumerable women and girls (among them Caitlin Macnamara, Dylan Thomas's future wife) to his bed (or wherever). As the author points out, respectability and social responsibility, or even a basic adherence to the laws of the land, were not bohemian strong points. What these artists and other followers of alternative life-styles did bequeath to us, however, was a loosening of the strict social and moral codes handed down from 19th century England and America, so that today, in living the freer lives we live, we stand in their debt, whether we know it or not.

Extremely interesting. What I loved about this book is that it is organized by categories such as, food, interior decorating, clothes, morals, etc. So not only does the book contain lots of interesting facts about famous Bllomsbury people and their extended circles, it also talks about the Bohemian lifestyle itself.

Well written and researched.

Pretty good history of a forgotten generation.

Bought this book because I loved the author's other book-Singled Out-and I'm so happy I did. From page one I was entranced and had a hard time putting it down to go to sleep. A wonderful look at the women and men who helped to free the restrictions society in the early twentieth century placed on us. A great read.

Virginia Nicholson had a wealth of background information...her Great-aunt being Virginia Woolf, and Grandmother Vanessa Bell the painter, both considered Bohemians of their times, not to mention her father, son of Vanessa Bell being raised in a Bohemian atmosphere. If you want to know what the true Bohemian life-style was like I highly recommend "Among the Bohemians". No spoiler alerts here, read the book!

(Apologies for the corny title). A friend of mine picked this up in a charity shop in Marin County, California. I was with her at the time and when we were comparing the various treasures we'd discovered, I had a quick flick through this wonderful book and immediately insisted on borrowing it to read first. Being largely occupied with last-minute arrangements for her wedding she hastily - rather rashly, it would transpire - agreed to this. For the next week, I found myself seeking her out every ten minutes to read her the next captivating passage - and the next. What's more, she began to look forward to the next instalment! Being a tad on the Bohemian side ourselves, virtually every quote, anecdote or observation struck such perfect chords of authenticity, recognition, humour or delight, I couldn't wait to share the next. It went everywhere with me for months. It really is that sort of book that you'll want to dip into to re-read favourite passages and to read out to chums down the pub or at a friends' Bohemianesque 'at home' gathering f'rinstance. You may well find it fills up with underlinings and apposite postcards of a Bohemian nature as bookmarks and generally Graingerise the hell out of it. (DON'T get the 'Kindle' version!) It soon became quite obvious that she was never going to get back the scuffed, creased, dog-eared and ever so slightly bulging much-loved volume, so I gladly bought her a replacement copy right here on Amazon (!) and she loves it just as much as I do and I believe has recommended it extensively to like-minded pals and given it as a gift. If you have the slightest interest in the folk who, in the first half of the last century lived, loved and dressed in ways that were still outraging the 'Squares' in the 1960s - and even today - this is the only book purporting to cover the subject that has the width, the depth and the wit to satisfy even the most demanding Neo-Boho (every generation produces it's crop!) - just one criticism - I think the US edition has a more stylish cover - (these things *are* important, right?) - but any Bohemian worth their salt can always cover it in some William Morris wallpaper or something. I'm off now to re-read my favourite chapters of this truly inspirational work - do get yourselves a copy - just don't lend it out - not even to your best friend - just *buy* them one!

Very interesting book. Fascinating read.

The author Virginia Nicolson is perfectly placed to write a book about the lives of Bohemian artists and writers before the Second World War - daughter of Quentin Bell and granddaughter of Vanessa Bell - she presents a sympathetic and engrossing portrait of this time, and those people, who tried to 'live for art' and rejected many of the rules society tried to impose. In this book she discusses what a bohemian actually was, the romance (or squalor) of poverty, free love, the children born to these unconventional families, the arts and crafts movement, fashion, food , domesticity, travel and friendship. Of course, living outside of the social mores of society was liberating for many but, for those who had little choice in the matter, such as the children, it was often disorderly or neglectful. Caspar John, one of Augustus John's many sons, joined the navy after a life of no restrictions. It was his way of rebelling and looking for structure and he became very successful, becoming the Admiral of the Fleet and eventually being knighted and a member of the establishment in a way that would have outraged his parents. Much of this book seems to recount behaviour which is self indulgent and often thoughtless, other parts make you applaud the tolerance and acceptance of those outside of the norm. However, often the ideal is not perfect in reality. Free Love sounds wonderful, but jealousy could rear it's head and, for women especially, having a child outside of marriage was not acceptable in those times. As always, it was women who suffered the consequences of bringing up the children and looking after the house with men often rejecting such domesticity as beneath them. Neglect of the home and children often seemed easier than the hard work involved in doing tasks most of society employed servants for and poverty more crushing than romantic. Overall, though, the author presents an interesting and enlightening portrait of those times and of the positive aspects of a group of people who lived to create art and literature and who tried to be true to their belief in a new way of doing things.

A book of great interconnections from a clever writer with a wealth ok knowledge. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

Great book but crap print version..too small type poor quality pages etc. Prefer pay a bit more for a book to cherish instead of a word slog read !All the pleasure gone at the start ! And the hardback version out of print !