The Aspirin Age is simply fantastic. Isabel Leighton presents eclectic essays by wonderful writers who cover some of the hottest topics and players from the period between World Wars I and II. Obvious subjects such as Versailles, Sacco and Vanzetti, the Depression and Pearl Harbor are discussed succinctly and brilliantly.

I was even more taken by the essays on less events and individuals, such as Aimee Semple McPherson, the charismatic conwoman/preacher who led a scandalous life, hogged the headlines and collected millions of dollars from her devoted followers. I particularly loved Gene Tunney’s thoughtful essay on how he developed his strategy for beating the brilliant heavyweight boxer Jack Dempsey. Keith Munro’a piece on the phenomenon of the Dionne Quintuplets was great fun and, like the pieces on McPherson and Lindbergh, provides bemused insight on the creation and fostering of celebrity.

For presidential history fans, there are great treatments of the brazen corruption that flourished under the hopelessly unqualified President Warren Harding. Even better was Irving Stone’s essay on Calvin Coolidge, “A Study in Inertia.” “Huey Long: American Dictator” is another brilliant and highly timely piece. Corruption is nothing new, but these pieces delve into the particularities of the period.

On a more idealistic note, Roscoe Drummond’s piece, “Wendell Wilkie: A Study in Courage” is a tribute to a politician who courageously chose to do what he believed was right for the country, even though it meant losing a presidential election. I didn’t know much about Wilkie previously and was really moved by Drummond’s admiration for an heroic figure.

ˆThe Aspirin Age” is ideal, both for history buffs who are familiar with the period and for folks who aren’t so familiar with the period, but want to get some idea of what happened between the two World Wars. By focusing on some of the most noted and notorious individuals of the day, Leighton provides a highly entertaining and informative smorgasbord, while at the same time offering a reasonably comprehensive overview of the time.

I believe this wonderful book is out of print, but happily I was able to find a reasonably priced used book on line, and I am so glad I did!