Books Set in the 1950s
Books Set in the 1950s
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1950s Nostalgia: A Decade of Post-War Optimism, Rock 'n' Roll, and Classic Americana
The 1950s were a time of incredible transformation, innovation, and cultural shifts. The decade, often seen through a lens of post-war optimism, evokes a unique sense of nostalgia for many. As families settled into suburban homes with white picket fences, the landscape of American life began to change. From classic cars and rock 'n' roll to the birth of the modern teenager and the dawn of television, the 1950s offered a blend of tradition and innovation that still captivates us today.
The Birth of the American Dream
The post-World War II economic boom led to a sense of prosperity and stability in the U.S. The “American Dream” was in full swing, with families striving for homeownership, steady jobs, and the opportunity to provide a better future for their children. This era saw the rise of the suburbs, with developments like Levittown, where young families could purchase affordable homes. The 1950s brought forth the image of the nuclear family, with homemakers like June Cleaver from Leave It to Beaver representing the idealized vision of a perfect suburban life.
Classic Americana: Fashion, Cars, and Culture
Fashion in the 1950s was marked by elegance and conformity, with women donning full-skirted dresses that emphasized hourglass figures, while men wore sharp suits. But there was also a growing sense of rebellion among the youth, influenced by icons like James Dean and Marlon Brando, who popularized the leather jacket and jeans look. This fashion was mirrored in the evolving culture of the "cool," best exemplified by diners, jukeboxes, and the birth of fast food chains like McDonald's.
Cars were not just a mode of transportation—they were a status symbol. The 1950s was the era of chrome-plated automobiles, with designs that emphasized curves and flashy details. The Chevrolet Bel Air, Ford Thunderbird, and Cadillac Eldorado remain iconic, representing the merging of style and function. Cars became the backdrop for many teenage experiences, whether at the local drive-in movie theater or cruising through town.
The Dawn of Rock 'n' Roll
Perhaps one of the most defining aspects of 1950s culture was the rise of rock 'n' roll. Artists like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, and Little Richard transformed the music scene, offering a sound that was loud, energetic, and rebellious. Rock 'n' roll gave voice to the youth of the decade, creating the concept of the modern teenager, who no longer dressed, behaved, or listened to music like their parents.
With the release of hits like "Hound Dog" and "Johnny B. Goode," rock 'n' roll became a cultural movement that transcended music. It was about freedom, expression, and the breaking of societal norms, much to the dismay of the older generation. The growing popularity of American Bandstand showcased these new trends, allowing teenagers across the country to connect with their favorite performers.
Television: The New Centerpiece of Family Life
The 1950s were also the decade when television truly became a household staple. Families would gather around their TV sets to watch shows like I Love Lucy, The Honeymooners, and The Ed Sullivan Show. These programs not only provided entertainment but also helped shape the shared experiences of American life. Television became a window to the world, offering a glimpse of both the familiar and the unfamiliar. The medium also allowed advertisers to reach consumers like never before, further fueling the consumerism that defined the decade.
The Cold War and Civil Rights: Shadows Amid the Sunshine
While the 1950s are often remembered for their optimism, the decade was not without its tensions. The Cold War between the U.S. and the Soviet Union heightened fears of communism and nuclear war. Schoolchildren were taught to "duck and cover" in preparation for possible attacks, and the space race began in earnest with the launch of the Soviet satellite Sputnik in 1957.
On the home front, the civil rights movement was beginning to take shape. The landmark Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling in 1954 declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional, and figures like Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. began to gain prominence. The 1950s laid the groundwork for the larger societal shifts of the 1960s.
The 1950s in Pop Culture Today
The imagery and symbols of the 1950s are still very much alive in pop culture today. Films like Grease and shows like Happy Days transport us back to an era of sock hops, soda fountains, and innocent romance. Even the fashion of the 1950s continues to inspire modern-day designers, while retro diners with checkered floors and neon signs evoke the charm of a bygone era.
Though the 1950s may seem distant now, its impact on American culture is still deeply felt. It was a decade where the values of tradition collided with the winds of change, creating a blend of nostalgia and innovation that continues to fascinate generations. For many, it represents the golden age of Americana—a simpler time when the world felt full of possibilities.
Books Set in the 1950s
The Pale Flesh of Wood by Elizabeth A. Tucker
1953. WWII veteran Charles Hawkins sweet-talks his daughter, Lyla, into climbing the family’s oak tree and hanging the rope for their tire swing. Eager, Lyla crawls along the branch and ties off a bowline, following her father’s careful instructions, becoming elated when he playfully tests the rope and declares the knot to be “strong enough to hold the weight of a grown man. Easy.”
But when her father walks out back one November night and hangs himself from the rope, Lyla becomes haunted by the belief that his death is her fault, a torment amplified by her grief-stricken mother, who sneaks up to the attic and finds comfort in the arms of her dead husband’s sweaters, and a formidable grandmother, who seemingly punishes Lyla by locking her outside, leaving her to stare down the enormous tree rooted at the epicenter of her family’s loss.
Set among the fault-prone landscape of Northern California, The Pale Flesh of Wood is told by three generations of the Hawkins family. Each narrative explores the effects of trauma after the ground shifts beneath their feet and how they must come to terms with their own sense of guilt in order to forgive and carry on.
The Delicate Beast by Roger Celestin
A novel of a life built on the ashes of childhood
In the 1950s Tropical Republic, a boy lives amid opulence and privilege, spending days at the beach or in the cool hills above the sweltering capital, enjoying leisurely Sunday lunches around the family compound’s swimming pool. That is, until the reign of The Mortician begins, unleashing unimaginable horrors that bring his childhood idyll to an end. Narrowly escaping the violent fate visited on so many of his fellow citizens, he and his brother follow their parents into exile in the United States where they must start a new life. But as he grows, he never feels at home, and leaves his family to travel across Europe and outrun the ghosts of the past.
A searing debut novel of a life lived in the shadow of history, The Delicate Beast portrays the persistent, pernicious legacy of political violence.
Let's Call Her Barbie by Renee Rosen
Author Interview with Renee Rosen
She was only eleven-and-a-half inches tall, but she would change the world. Barbie is born in this bold new novel by USA Today bestselling author Renée Rosen.
When Ruth Handler walks into the boardroom of the toy company she co-founded and pitches her idea for a doll unlike any other, she knows what she’s setting in motion. It might just take the world a moment to catch up.
In 1956, the only dolls on the market for little girls let them pretend to be mothers. Ruth’s vision for a doll shaped like a grown woman and outfitted in an enviable wardrobe will let them dream they can be anything.
As Ruth assembles her team of creative rebels—head engineer Jack Ryan who hides his deepest secrets behind his genius and designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, whose hopes and dreams rest on the success of Barbie’s fashion—she knows they’re working against a ticking clock to get this wild idea off the ground.
In the decades to come—through soaring heights and devastating personal lows, public scandals and private tensions— each of them will have to decide how tightly to hold on to their creation. Because Barbie has never been just a doll—she’s a legacy.
The Paris Gown by Christine Wells
From perennially popular historical novelist Christine Wells, the delightful tale of three young women in 1950s Paris who share a single dazzling Christian Dior gown.
Paris, 1955
Three friends—Claire, Gina, and Margot—who parted as very young women with their whole lives ahead of them, reunite in Paris years later, determined to start life anew.
Parisian Claire has been working hard to become a Michelin-starred chef one day, but ever since the heady time she spent in the company of socialites Gina and Margot, her dream has been to own a Dior gown. This seemed like a far-off fantasy, until the eccentric and wealthy Madame Vaughn, who lives above Claire’s family brasserie, abruptly leaves Paris, asking Claire to mind her apartment. More bafflingly, Madame Vaughn also makes Claire a very special gift: a stunning Dior gown.
Meanwhile Gina, a cool American blue blood, lands on Claire’s doorstep nursing a broken heart and a broken engagement after her father lost all of the family money in a risky business venture. A journalist aspiring to be a novelist, Gina has returned to Paris in the hopes of pursuing her dream. But when her father begs her to attend the United States Embassy ball in the hopes of persuading Hal Sanders, her former fiancé, to invest in her father’s new business venture, she is torn. She wants to help her father, but seeing Hal again will be exquisitely painful. And what on earth is she going to wear?
Warm-hearted Claire insists Gina wear the Dior gown to the ball, and after some hesitation, Gina accepts. At Dior for Gina’s fitting, who should assist them but Margot, the friend they thought had gone back to Australia to be married. But Margot is living in Paris and working at Dior under an assumed name, and clearly, she is not happy to have been found.
Is their close friendship at an end? Or will the wonder and delight of the Dior gown bring these young women back together?
Gorgeous, perfectly fitted, lustrous and luxurious, the Dior gown has the power to change lives—as these three remarkable women are about to discover…
The Briar Club by Kate Quinn
Also listed in Best Kate Quinn Books
The New York Times bestselling author of The Diamond Eye and The Rose Code returns with a haunting and powerful story of female friendships and secrets in a Washington, DC, boardinghouse during the McCarthy era.
Washington, DC, 1950. Everyone keeps to themselves at Briarwood House, a down-at-the-heels all-female boardinghouse in the heart of the nation’s capital where secrets hide behind white picket fences. But when the lovely, mysterious widow Grace March moves into the attic room, she draws her oddball collection of neighbors into unlikely friendship: poised English beauty Fliss, whose facade of perfect wife and mother covers gaping inner wounds; policeman’s daughter Nora, who finds herself entangled with a shadowy gangster; frustrated baseball star Beatrice, whose career has come to an end along with the women’s baseball league of WWII; and poisonous, gung-ho Arlene, who has thrown herself into McCarthy’s Red Scare.
Grace’s weekly attic-room dinner parties and window-brewed sun tea become a healing balm on all their lives, but she hides a terrible secret of her own. When a shocking act of violence tears the house apart, the Briar Club women must decide once and for all: who is the true enemy in their midst?
Capturing the paranoia of the McCarthy era and evoking the changing roles for women in postwar America, The Briar Club is an intimate and thrilling novel of secrets and loyalty put to the test.
Hall of Mirrors by John Copenhaver
When a popular mystery novelist dies suspiciously, his writing partner must untangle the author’s connection to a serial killer in award-winning John Copenhaver’s new novel set in 1950s McCarthy-era Washington, DC.
In May 1954, Lionel Kane witnesses his apartment engulfed in flames with his lover and writing partner, Roger Raymond, inside. Police declare it a suicide due to gas ignition, but Lionel refuses to believe Roger was suicidal.
A month earlier, Judy Nightingale and Philippa Watson—the tenacious and troubled heroines from The Savage Kind—attend a lecture by Roger and, being eager fans, befriend him. He has just been fired from his day job at the State Department, another victim of the Lavender Scare, an anti-gay crusade led by figures like Senator Joseph McCarthy and J. Edgar Hoover, claiming homosexuals are security risks. Little do Judy and Philippa know, but their obsessive manhunt of the past several years has fueled the flames of his dismissal.
They have been tracking their old enemy Adrian Bogdan, a spy and vicious serial killer protected by powerful forces in the government. He’s on the rampage again, and the police are ignoring his crimes. Frustrated, they send their research to the media and their favorite mystery writer anonymously, hoping to inspire someone, somehow, to publish on the crimes—anything to draw Bogdan out. But has their persistence brought deadly forces to the writing team behind their most beloved books?
In the wake of Roger’s death, Lionel searches for clues, but Judy and Philippa threaten his quest, concealing dark secrets of their own. As the crimes of the past and present converge, danger mounts, and the characters race to uncover the truth, even if it means bending their moral boundaries to stop a killer.
Lake County by Lori Roy
Set in the 1950s, this Southern Gothic thriller by Edgar Award–winning author Lori Roy reimagines the life of Marilyn Monroe, tying her fate to a dreamy teenager whose boyfriend runs afoul of the mob.
Desperate to break free of small-town Florida, Addie Anne Buckley dreams of following in the path of her glamorous aunt Jean—known to the world as Marilyn Monroe. When Aunt Jean plans a trip to Hollywood for Addie’s eighteenth birthday, Addie sees her chance to escape.
One thing stands in her way: her boyfriend. Truitt Holt is Addie’s first and only love and will be joining her in California. But days before Addie’s due to leave, Truitt does an about-face and gives her a painful ultimatum: stay and marry him, or they’re through. Addie chooses her dream.
Hurt and angry, Truitt unwittingly exposes the illegal bolita game he’s been running in mob territory. Now the Tampa mafia is after him, and he has until midnight to cut a deal that will save his life and Addie’s. What he doesn’t know…his trouble with the mob has already found Addie and her family. She’s already in a fight for her life.
Witch Hunt: The Cold War, Joe McCarthy, and the Red Scare by Dr. Andrea Balis and Elizabeth Levy
Witch Hunt: The Cold War, Joe McCarthy, and the Red Scare provides a gripping account of one of the most tumultuous periods in American history. Authors Dr. Andrea Balis and Elizabeth Levy delve into Senator Joe McCarthy's infamous hunt for communists during the 1950s Red Scare. Originally written for young adult and teen audiences, the book is written in a unique screenplay-style format with rich illustrations and includes interviews with individuals who recalled their childhood experiences of McCarthyism. With meticulous research and attention to detail, The authors shed light on the human stories behind historical events, filling in the critical gaps in historical knowledge, ensuring that the lessons of the past are not forgotten in today's rapidly changing world.
The Monstrous Misses Mai by Van Hoang
A determined young woman in 1950s Los Angeles walks a darker city than she ever imagined in a spellbinding novel about the power to make dreams come true―whatever the sacrifice.
Los Angeles brims with opportunity in 1959―though not for aspiring fashion designer Cordelia Mai Yin, the first-generation child of Vietnamese immigrants, who finds the city unkind to outsiders and as dispirited as her own family. When Cordi rents a cheap loft in an old apartment building, she quickly warms to kindred souls Tessa, Audrey, and Silly. They also want better things and have pasts they’d rather forget. That they all share the same middle name makes their friendship seem like destiny.
As supportive as they are of each other, it’s a struggle just to eke out a living, let alone hope to see their wishes for success come true. Until an ever-present and uncannily charming acquaintance of the landlord’s offers a solution to their problems. He promises to fulfill their every dream. All it takes is a little magic. And a small sacrifice.
As one surprisingly effective spell leads to another, their wishes get bigger. But so does the price they must pay. Amid the damaged seams of her life so far, Cordi must realize her own power in order to rip free, without losing everything she’s worked so hard to achieve.
The Devil and Mrs. Davenport by Paulette Kennedy
Also listed in Books to Read for Halloween
The bestselling author of The Witch of Tin Mountain and Parting the Veil mines the subtle horrors of 1950s America in a gripping novel about a woman under pressure―from the living and the dead.
The first day of autumn brought the fever, and with the fever came the voices.
Missouri, 1955. Loretta Davenport has led an isolated life as a young mother and a wife to Pete, an ambitious assistant professor at a Bible college. They’re the picture of domestic tranquility―until a local girl is murdered and Loretta begins receiving messages from beyond. Pete dismisses them as delusions of a fevered female imagination. Loretta knows they’re real―and frightening.
Defying Pete’s demands, Loretta finds an encouraging supporter in parapsychologist Dr. Curtis Hansen. He sees a woman with a rare gift, more blessing than curse. With Dr. Hansen’s help, Loretta’s life opens up to an empowering new purpose. But for Pete, the God-fearing image he’s worked so hard to cultivate is under threat. No longer in control of his dutiful wife, he sees the Devil at work.
As Loretta’s powers grow stronger and the pleading spirits beckon, Pete is determined to deliver his wife from evil. To solve the mysteries of the dead, Loretta must first save herself.
The Starlets by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne
Real life is turning out to be stranger than a script for the silver screen.
Summer, 1958. Vivienne Rhodes thinks she’s finally landed her break playing Helen of Troy in Apex Pictures’ big-budget epic, A Thousand Ships, an anticipated blockbuster meant to resurrect the failing studio. Naturally, she’s devastated when she arrives on the remote Italian island of Tavalli and finds herself cast as the secondary character, Cassandra—while her nemesis, the fiancée-stealing Lottie Lawrence, America’s supposed “sweetheart,” is playing the lead role instead.
The tension on set, though, turns deadly when the ladies discover that members of the crew are using the production as a front for something decidedly illegal—and that they are willing to kill to keep their dealings under wraps. When the two women find themselves on the run and holding key evidence, Vivienne and Lottie frantically agree to work together to deliver the proof to Interpol, hoping to protect both their lives and their careers.
Staying one step ahead of corrupt cops and looming mobsters, the archrivals flee across the seas. Their journey leads them into Monaco’s casinos, Grace Kelly’s palace, on a road trip through the Alps—even onto another film set, before a final showdown back on Tavalli, where the lives of the entire cast and crew hang in the balance. Vivienne and Lottie finally have the chance to be real heroines—to save the day, the film, maybe even each other—but only if they can first figure out how to share the spotlight.
Trial by Ambush: Murder, Injustice, and the Truth about the Case of Barbara Graham by Marcia Clark
In this dramatic true account about the power of sensationalized crime, one woman’s case is exposed for its sexism, flagrant disregard for the truth, and, ultimately, the dangers posed by an unbridled prosecution.
Unwanted and neglected from birth, Barbara Graham had to overcome the odds just to survive. Her beauty was both a blessing and a curse—offering her too many options of all the wrong kind. Her innate sensitivity left her vulnerable to the harsh realities of the street, where she was left to fend for herself before she reached double digits. Her record of petty crimes spoke to a life that constantly teetered on the brink of disaster.
But in 1953, a catastrophic twist of fate would catapult her out of obscurity and into the headlines.
When a robbery spiraled out of control and escalated into a brutal murder, Barbara became the centerpiece of a media circus. Her beauty enraptured the press, and they were quick to portray her as a villainous femme fatale despite abundant evidence to the contrary—a fiction the prosecution eagerly promoted.
The frenzy of public interest and willful distortion paved a treacherous path for Barbara Graham. In Trial by Ambush, author and criminal lawyer Marcia Clark investigates the case exposing the fallacies in the demonizing picture they painted and the critical evidence that was never revealed.
One Puzzling Afternoon by Emily Critchley
“An uplifting, bittersweet story with a page-turning mystery at its heart. Emily Critchley writes about aging and memory with huge warmth and compassion. A beautifully atmospheric and endearing book.'' --Freya Sampson, author of The Last Chance Library
For readers of Elizabeth is Missing with notes of The Maid comes a dual-timeline novel that balances heartfelt tenderness with a suspenseful mystery as elderly Edie Green uncovers the clues behind her best friend’s disappearance before the truth is lost in her memory forever
I kept your secret Lucy. I've kept it for more than sixty years...
It is 1951, and at number six Sycamore Street fifteen-year-old Edie Green is lonely. Living with her eccentric mother and her mother’s new boyfriend, she is desperate for something to shake her from her dull, isolated life.
So when the popular, pretty Lucy Theddle befriends Edie, she thinks all her troubles are over. Even though Lucy has a secret, one Edie is not certain she should keep.
Then Lucy goes missing.
Now in 2018, Edie is eighty-four and still living in the same small town, when one afternoon she glimpses Lucy Theddle, still looking the same as she did at fifteen. Her family write it off as one of her many mix ups, there's a lot Edie gets confused about these days. But Edie knows she’s the key to finding Lucy.
Time is running out and Edie must piece together the clues before Lucy is forgotten forever.
Toward the Corner of Mercy and Peace by Tracey D. Buchanan
Author Interview with Tracey D. Buchanan
It’s 1952 in the small western Kentucky town of Paducah and Mrs. Minerva Place would prefer everyone mind his own business, follow the rules, and if dead, stay dead. Nosy neighbors and irritating church members are bad enough but when residents of the local cemetery start showing up, the quirky widow wonders if she’s going crazy. Just as distressing, a new boy in the neighborhood seems intent on disrupting her life. Minerva, aggravated by the precocious six-year-old, holds him and his father at arm’s length. Nevertheless, with charming perseverance they find a way into her closed-off life and an unlikely friendship begins. But just when Minerva starts to let her guard down, a tragic accident shatters her emerging reconnection with life. Now more than her sanity is at stake. With the help of the living and the dead, Minerva discovers the power of forgiveness and why it’s worth it to let others into your life, even when it hurts.
The Radcliffe Ladies' Reading Club by Julia Bryan Thomas
For readers of Martha Hall Kelly and Beatriz Williams, "a story of female freedom and constraints that doesn’t shy away from the trauma—and joy—that faced U.S. women in the 1950s." (Kirkus)
Literature has the power to speak to each of us uniquely — but also to draw us together.
Massachusetts, 1954. With bags packed alongside her heavy heart, Alice Campbell escaped halfway across the country and found herself in front of a derelict building tucked among the cobblestone streets of Cambridge. She turns it into the enchanting bookshop of her dreams, knowing firsthand the power of books to comfort the brokenhearted.
The Cambridge Bookshop soon becomes a haven for Tess, Caroline, Evie, and Merritt, who are all navigating the struggles of being newly independent college women in a world that seems to want to keep them in the kitchen. But when a member of the group finds herself shattered, everything they know about themselves will be called into question.
From the author of For Those Who Are Lost comes an extraordinary love letter to books and friendship, a story that is at once heart-wrenching, strengthening, and inspiring.
Daughter Dalloway by Emily France
Perfect for fans of Marie Benedict and Renée Rosen, Daughter Dalloway is both an homage to the Virginia Woolf classic and a brilliant spin-off—the empowering, rebellious coming-of-age story of Mrs. Dalloway’s only child, Elizabeth.
London, 1952: Forty-six-year-old Elizabeth Dalloway feels she has failed at most everything in life, especially living up to her mother, the elegant Mrs. Dalloway, an ideal socialite and model of perfection until she disappeared in the summer of 1923—and hasn’t been heard from since.
When Elizabeth is handed a medal with a mysterious inscription from her mother to a soldier named Septimus Warren Smith, she’s certain it contains a clue from the past. As she sets out, determined to deliver the medal to its rightful owner, Elizabeth begins to piece together memories of that fateful summer.
London, 1923: At seventeen, Elizabeth carouses with the Prince of Wales and sons of American iron barons and decides to join the Bright Young People—a group of bohemians whose antics often land in the tabloids. She is a girl who rebels against the staid social rules of the time, a girl determined to do it all differently than her mother. A girl who doesn’t yet feel like a failure.
That summer, Octavia Smith braves the journey from the countryside to London, determined to track down her older brother Septimus who returned from the war but never came home. She falls in with a group of clever city boys who have learned to survive on the streets. When one starts to steal her heart, she must discover whether he is a friend or foe—and whether she can make it in the city on her own.
Elizabeth and Octavia are destined to cross paths, and when they do, the truths they unearth will shatter their understanding of the people they love most.
They Got Daddy: One Family's Reckoning with Racism and Faith by Sharon Tubbs
An unforgettable journey through racism and faith across the generations.
January 15, 1959—a day that changed one family forever. White supremacists kidnapped and severely beat rural Alabama preacher Israel Page, nearly killing him because he had sued a White sheriff's deputy for injuries suffered in a car crash. After "they" "got Daddy," Israel Page's children began leaving the Jim Crow South, the event leaving an indelible mark on the family and its future. Decades later, the events of that day fueled journalist Sharon Tubbs's epic quest to learn who had "gotten" her mother's daddy and why.
They Got Daddy follows Tubbs on her moving journey from Fort Wayne, Indiana, to the back roads and rural churches of Alabama. A powerful revelation of the sustaining and redemptive power of faith and unflinching testimony to the deeply embedded effects of racism across the generations, it demonstrates how the search for the truth can offer a chance at true healing.
The Heist by M.J. Rose and C.W. Gortner
Author Interview with M.J. Rose
To catch a leopard wear diamonds...From the glamour of late 1950s Hollywood to a desperate chase in the ravines of Los Angeles, two leopards must hunt each other to the end. And only one of them can bring down its prey. THE HEIST is the thrilling conclusion in the To Catch A Leopard series, a dramatic romantic caper that began with THE STEAL and THE BAIT.
On Gin Lane by Brooke Lea Foster
When Everleigh “Lee” Farrows’ fiancé, Roland, brings her to the Hamptons in the summer of 1957, she has no idea her life will soon change. As a young socialite, she lives her best glamorous life with Roland as he bestows on her a luxury beachside hotel on the prized Gin Lane. But when the hotel mysteriously burns down opening weekend, Lee’s “perfect life” of Bellinis and Manhattan social circles begins to unravel, leaving her no choice but to face her past traumas and discover who she really is.
Shadows of Berlin by David R. Gillham
1955 in New York City: the city of instant coffee, bagels at Katz’s Deli, ultra-modern TVs. But in the Perlman’s walk-up in Chelsea, the past is as close as the present. Rachel came to Manhattan in a wave of displaced Jews who managed to survive the horrors of war. Her Uncle Fritz fleeing with her, Rachel hoped to find freedom from her pain in New York and in the arms of her new American husband, Aaron. But this child of Berlin and daughter of an artist cannot seem to outrun her guilt in the role of American housewife, not until she can shed the ghosts of her past. And when Uncle Fritz discovers, in a dreary midtown pawn shop, the most shocking portrait that her mother had ever painted, Rachel’s memories begin to terrorize her, forcing her to face the choices she made to stay alive—choices that might be her undoing.
The Cicada Tree by Robert Gwaltney
Atlanta author Robert Gwaltney's fantastic debut novel, THE CICADA TREE, is a classic Southern gothic tale of obsession and manipulation, all set against a sweltering summer in 1950s Georgia. Following Analeise Newell, a young piano prodigy from Providence, Georgia, the book unfurls as a brooding, mystical narrative centered around Analiese's growing fascination with an old-money family - and the summer in which that fascination morphs into obsession. At the heart of the story is the meeting between young Analeise and Cordelia Mayfield, the matriarch of the Mistletoe Plantation, during the midst of a cicada cycle. Possessed with an otherworldly beauty, Cordelia (along with her daughter, Marlissa) captivates young Analeise - until a whispered secret and a shocking act of violence leads to decisions and consequences that reverberate through a lifetime. Lyrical and infused with the cadence and magic of small-town Southern life, THE CICADA TREE is the debut of an exciting new voice in fiction.
SMALL PLEASURES By Clare Chambers
Longlisted for the Women’s Fiction Prize, SMALL PLEASURES defied the pandemic to become a massive word-of-mouth hit in the UK in July 2020. It was a sensational commercial breakout for previously literary author, CLARE CHAMBERS. Of the novel, Jessie Burton, bestselling author of The Miniaturist, wrote: “I’ve had about five people recommend this to me, which is quite rare... It’s a novel about the last throw of the dice, the last chance perhaps of finding a life of happiness when you’ve had a struggle. The writing is beautiful. This is also the first novel Chambers has written in ten years, which I find really inspiring—she’s come back with this absolute humdinger. It’s just so nice to read a book by someone who’s so confident with their talent.” Now available for the first time in the US—SMALL PLEASURES, the dark horse literary novel that has taken Britain by storm! In the best tradition of Tessa Hadley, Kazuo Ishiguro, and Ann Patchett—an astonishing, keenly observed period piece about an ordinary British woman in the 1950s whose dutiful life takes a sudden turn into a pitched battle between propriety and unexpected passion.
ALL THESE BODIES by Kendare Blake
Summer 1958. A gruesome killer plagues the Midwest, leaving behind a trail of bodies completely drained of blood. Michael Jensen, an aspiring journalist whose father happens to be the town sheriff, never imagined that the Bloodless Murders would come to his backyard. Not until the night the Carlson family was found murdered in their home. Marie Catherine Hale, a diminutive fifteen-year-old, was discovered at the scene—covered in blood. She is the sole suspect in custody. Michael didn’t think that he would be part of the investigation, but he is pulled in when Marie decides that he is the only one she will confess to. As Marie recounts her version of the story, it falls to Michael to find the truth: What really happened the night that the Carlsons were killed? And how did one girl wind up in the middle of all these bodies?
Deadly Summer Nights by Vicki Delany
It’s the summer of 1953, and Elizabeth Grady is settling into Haggerman’s Catskills Resort. As a vacation getaway, Haggerman’s is ideal, and despite Elizabeth’s complicated relationship with her ostentatious but well-meaning mother, Elizabeth is eager to help manage her, the guests, and the entertainment acts. But Elizabeth will have to resort to untested abilities if she wants to keep her mother’s business afloat. When a reclusive guest is found dead in a lake on the grounds, and a copy of The Communist Manifesto is found in his cabin, the local police chief is convinced that the man was a Russian spy. Elizabeth isn’t so sure, and with the fate of the resort hanging in the balance, she’ll need to dodge red herrings, withstand the Red Scare, and catch a killer red-handed.
1950s Fashion
1950s fashion is remembered for its elegance, femininity, and growing sense of individuality, shaped by the optimism of post-war prosperity. It was a decade that brought glamorous yet practical styles for women and a polished, classic look for men, with some rebellious undertones, especially among the youth.
Women’s Fashion
Women’s fashion in the 1950s emphasized the hourglass silhouette, defined by cinched waists, full skirts, and structured bodices. This was largely influenced by Christian Dior’s "New Look," introduced in 1947, which remained popular throughout the decade. Key elements of women’s fashion included:
Full-Skirted Dresses: Dresses with voluminous skirts were paired with tight, fitted bodices to create an exaggerated waistline. These were often worn with crinolines or petticoats underneath for added volume, perfect for both daywear and evening outings.
Pencil Skirts and Fitted Dresses: While full skirts were popular, slim-fitting pencil skirts also made their mark. They offered a sleek, elegant alternative for a more sophisticated, streamlined look, often paired with tailored blouses or jackets.
Sweater Sets and Cardigans: A common casual or everyday look was the twinset—a short-sleeve sweater and matching cardigan. This was often paired with skirts or capri pants for a chic, put-together look.
High Heels and Gloves: Women accessorized with stilettos and gloves, which were worn for both casual outings and more formal occasions. Gloves added a touch of formality and elegance to even daytime outfits.
Elegant Evening Wear: Cocktail dresses, adorned with lace, tulle, and intricate embellishments, were popular for evening events. These dresses highlighted the waist and often had off-the-shoulder or sweetheart necklines.
Men’s Fashion
Men’s fashion in the 1950s was defined by clean, sharp tailoring, with an emphasis on traditional masculinity. Whether in business attire or casual settings, men’s clothing reflected an era of formality and refinement. Key trends included:
Suits: Businessmen in the 1950s typically wore single-breasted, dark-colored suits with narrow ties. The silhouette of men’s suits was slimmer than in previous decades, focusing on clean lines and a well-defined fit.
Casual Wear: For more relaxed occasions, men adopted the casual "Ivy League" look, characterized by sports jackets, V-neck sweaters, and button-down shirts. Bowling shirts, leather jackets, and polo shirts were also popular casual staples.
Trousers: Men’s trousers were generally high-waisted and tapered, giving a sleek look. They were often paired with leather shoes or loafers for a polished finish.
Greaser Style: Among younger men, the “greaser” look, influenced by stars like James Dean and Marlon Brando, gained popularity. It was defined by leather jackets, white T-shirts, blue jeans, and slicked-back hair.
Youth and Rebellion
The 1950s also marked the birth of the modern teenager, whose fashion began to diverge from that of their parents. Teen fashion was influenced by the burgeoning rock ‘n’ roll culture, with trends like:
Poodle Skirts: Full circle skirts with playful appliqué designs, like poodles, were popular among teenage girls, often paired with saddle shoes and bobby socks for a fun, youthful look.
Blue Jeans and Leather Jackets: Young men, especially those inspired by rebellious icons like Elvis Presley and James Dean, favored blue jeans and leather jackets, a stark contrast to the more formal styles of their parents.
Accessories and Hairstyles
Accessories played a vital role in completing 1950s looks. Women often wore hats and carried matching handbags. Costume jewelry, including pearls, brooches, and clip-on earrings, was also popular. Hair was styled in soft curls or in the iconic "poodle cut," while men often sported short, neat haircuts or the pompadour for a more daring look.
In summary, 1950s fashion was all about refinement and elegance for adults, while the youth embraced new trends that reflected the growing spirit of rebellion and individuality. The decade’s fashion remains iconic for its timeless glamour and enduring influence on modern style.
