Moment of Grace

the long version

"Moment of Grace tells the story of the American city in its remarkable heyday. Urban culture was at its peak in the 1950s: it was vital, urbane, conformist, and generating rebellion all at once. Capturing the mood of the '50s in superb historical photographs and mining myriad delectable sources - including novels, songs, magazines, newspapers, writings of well-known urban critics, and interviews with city residents - Moment of Grace brings alive the era's downtowns, neighborhoods, and suburbs. A rich reflection on a singular decade, the book also portrays the '50s as a critical turning point in American culture and economy. Michael Johns shows us exactly why city life never could or would be the same again.". "Giving a vivid sense of the lived experience of the day, Johns explores the '50s in cities such as New York, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Chicago, and Oakland, writing about fashion (which demanded the highest heels and pointiest breasts in history), nightlife, architecture, literature, business and economic trends, and teenage culture. He tells us what was for sale in the stores, who lived in the neighborhoods, what life was like for women in the brand-new suburbs, and much more. And he confronts difficult issues head-on: What did the loss of city jobs and the simultaneous success of the civil rights movement mean for black neighborhoods? What were the profound consequences of the rise of the suburbs for family life?"--BOOK JACKET.