A really good look into the history of the Bloomsbury group and their push for more freedom in the arts. I've always been a huge fan of the 1920s and this book gave me a different angle to look into the arts and culture society of the time.

This book was remarkable! I do love an engaging group biography that paints a time, place, or collection of people against the forces of the day. This book fits that bill and more.

When I think of Bloomsbury, I didn't even realize that I was excluding an entire second set of people who came up as a second wave, hence Young Bloomsbury. I always thought of the Woolfs, Maynard Keyes, Elliot, Forster, etc. as the Bloomsbury set, so I was delightfully surprised to read about how they were taken over by a freer, more radical, gayer, and a merrier group of people whose quest for freedom challenged the mores of those who inspired them in the first place. And how their instinct wasn't to embrace or champion them, but to roll their eyes, question their reasoning, and be suspicious of their motives, in some cases. This conflict was very sad, and yet fascinating to read about.

I loved this book so much that I purchased a copy, despite being gifted a NetGalley arc by Atria Books in exchange for a fair review.

This book is an absolute delight! I had some familiarity with the Bloomsbury group (Virginia Woolf, Cecil Beaton, Duncan Grant, Lytton Strachey, Evelyn Waugh etc.) but this book goes into much more detail about their lives, loves, ability to express themselves freely and be open to all sexual orientations and gender expression. This was a creative and fantastic time and these writers, artists and critics opened up new perspectives and visions that have only recently in the past few decades or so been "revived" of sorts in the US and UK in particular. What makes this book so unique and special is that the author is a descendant of one of the main members of the group and so tells us a compelling narrative that connects into present day and to their child. The book is structured really well -- each chapter focuses on one aspect of culture or their lives. This is a highly informative and enjoyable read. I highly recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I would like Atria Books and Net Galley for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.I have read a number of books about the Bloomsbury Circle ( Virginia Woolf et al). I was interested in this book about the next generation- or Young Bloomsbury.I had thought it would also be about the group referred to as the Bright Young Things- The Mitfords and Evelyn Waugh , for example. There was very little about the Bright Young Things. There was also not as much about the Young Bloomsbury as I had thought. The bulk was about the original Bloomsbury Group and their influences. It was well researched and well written,just not the information that I was looking forward to reading. Having said that, if you are looking for a first book about the Bloomsbury group, this is a good place to start.I enjoyed reading this book.

Nonfiction is not my review beat but I am so excite about this one! Am always in the mood for Young Literary Scandal nonfiction, and Bloomsbury is all so messy and interesting as a group of writers. Can’t wait!