It Gives me Great Pleasure

At its most basic, this book is a series of anecdotes. They are mostly humorous; a few are a bit harried, and one is quite touching, but what they all have in common is that they are strongly evocative of a bygone era. For a reader with an interest in or a little knowledge of the era, this book is a time machine, destination set to the middle of the 20th century. I really felt as if I could see and touch all the small things that made up everyday life, as if I'd stepped into a movie for a moment. For someone interested in history but perhaps not as well acquainted with it, looking up just a few little details--a photo of a Pullman car interior (in daytime configuration and made up for night), a 1940s street scene from any good-sized American city, a mid-century group photo from a women's club--would be all you would need to bring the details into sharp focus, making them jump out like an optical illusion when someone gives you the hint that lets you see it. (The illustrations by Helen Hokinson are more charming than informative, but they convey the flavor of the era in their own way.) If you are not a fan of the author's early collaborative efforts with friend Cornelia Otis Skinner, consider giving this one a try anyway; Emily Kimbrough at a more mature stage of life is a better tour guide.