__NOTOC__ The Bright Young Things, or Bright Young People, was a nickname given by the tabloid press to a group of

Bohemian Bohemian or Bohemians may refer to: *Anything of or relating to Bohemia Beer * National Bohemian, a brand brewed by Pabst * Bohemian, a brand of beer brewed by Molson Coors Culture and arts * Bohemianism, an unconventional lifestyle, origin ...

young aristocrats and

socialite A socialite is a person from a wealthy and (possibly) aristocratic background, who is prominent in high society. A socialite generally spends a significant amount of time attending various fashionable social gatherings, instead of having traditio ...

s in 1920s

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

. They threw flamboyant

fancy dress A costume party (American English) or fancy dress party (other varieties of English) is a type of party, common in contemporary Western culture, in which many of the guests are dressed in costume, usually depicting a fictional or stock chara ...

parties, went on elaborate treasure hunts through nighttime London, and some drank heavily or used drugs — all of which was enthusiastically covered by journalists such as Charles Graves and

Tom Driberg Thomas Edward Neil Driberg, Baron Bradwell (22 May 1905 – 12 August 1976) was a British journalist, politician, High Anglican churchman and possible Soviet spy, who served as a Member of Parliament (MP) from 1942 to 1955, and again from 195 ...

. They inspired a number of writers, including Nancy Mitford (''Highland Fling''), Anthony Powell ('' A Dance to the Music of Time''), Henry Green ('' Party Going''),

Dorothy Sayers Dorothy Leigh Sayers (; 13 June 1893 – 17 December 1957) was an English crime writer and poet. She was also a student of classical and modern languages. She is best known for her mysteries, a series of novels and short stories set between th ...

('' Murder Must Advertise''), and the poet

John Betjeman Sir John Betjeman (; 28 August 190619 May 1984) was an English poet, writer, and broadcaster. He was Poet Laureate from 1972 until his death. He was a founding member of The Victorian Society and a passionate defender of Victorian architecture, ...

. Evelyn Waugh's 1930 novel '' Vile Bodies'', adapted as the 2003 film '' Bright Young Things'', is a satirical look at this scene. Cecil Beaton began his career in photography by documenting this set, of which he was a member. The most prominent members of the group included: * Harold Acton * Patrick Balfour, Baron Kinross * Cecil Beaton *

* Edward Burra * Robert Byron *

Sheila Chisholm Margaret Sheila Mackellar Chisholm (9 September 1895 – 13 October 1969) was an Australian socialite and "it girl" in British high society during and after World War I. She married three times: Francis St Clair-Erskine, Lord Loughborough (h ...

Daphne Fielding The Hon. Daphne Winifred Louise Fielding (''née'' Vivian, formerly Thynne; 11 July 1904 – 5 December 1997) was a British author in the 20th century. Early life Daphne Vivian was born on 11 July 1904 in Westminster, London, the elder chil ...

Edward Gathorne-Hardy Hon. Ralph Edward Gathorne-Hardy (4 June 190118 June 1978) was a British antiquarian, traveler and socialite. Early life The second child of Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, 3rd Earl of Cranbrook - grandson of Gathorne Gathorne-Hardy, 1st Earl of Cranb ...

* Terence Greenidge *

Bryan Guinness Bryan Walter Guinness, 2nd Baron Moyne, (27 October 1905 – 6 July 1992) was an heir to part of the Guinness family brewing fortune, and a lawyer, poet and novelist. He was briefly married to Diana Mitford. Early life He was born to W ...

* Gavin Henderson * Brian Howard *

Arthur Jeffress Arthur Tilden Jeffress (21 November 1905 – 21 September 1961) was an influential gallery owner, collector, and patron of the arts in post-World War II Britain. In the 1920s and 1930s he was conspicuous mostly as a rich playboy and socialite. ...

Teresa Jungman Teresa "Baby" Jungman (9 July 1907 – 11 June 2010) was the younger daughter of Dutch-born artist Nico Wilhelm Jungmann. Along with her sister Zita, she was one of the "Bright Young Things" in the 1920s. Biography Jungman's father was a natural ...

* Zita Jungman *

Barbara Ker-Seymer Barbara Marcia Ker-Seymer (20 January 190525 May 1993) was a British photographer and society figure, considered one of the group designated by the tabloid press as 'Bright Young People'. Early life Born in Kensington, the second daughter of Ho ...

* Oliver Messel * Diana Mitford * Nancy Mitford *

Beverley Nichols John Beverley Nichols (9 September 1898 – 15 September 1983) was an English writer, playwright and public speaker. He wrote more than 60 books and plays. Career Between his first book, the novel, ''Prelude'' (1920) and his last, a book of po ...

* Brenda Dean Paul *

Babe Plunket-Greene Babe Plunket Greene (27 October 1907The National Archives of the UK; Kew, Surrey, England; Court for Divorce and Matrimonial Causes, later Supreme Court of Judicature: Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Files; Class: J 77; Piece: 916; Item: 7811 – 4 ...

David Plunket Greene David Plunket Greene (19 November 1904 – 24 February 1941), together with his brother Richard and sister Olivia, was part of the Bright Young Things who inspired the novel ''Vile Bodies'' to Evelyn Waugh, a family friend. Biography David Plun ...

Olivia Plunket Greene Olivia Honor Mary Plunket Greene (7 March 1907 – 11 November 1958), together with her brothers Richard and David, was part of the Bright Young Things who inspired the novel ''Vile Bodies'' by Evelyn Waugh, who was Olivia's suitor. Biography Sh ...

* Richard Plunket Greene *

Elizabeth Ponsonby Hon. Elizabeth Ponsonby (28 December 190031 July 1940) was an English aristocrat who was a prominent member of the Bright Young Things, well-connected socialites who featured heavily in the contemporary tabloid press for what were perceived to be ...

Loelia Ponsonby Loelia Mary, Lady Lindsay, formerly Loelia, Duchess of Westminster, (''née'' The Honourable Loelia Ponsonby (6 February 1902 – 1 November 1993), was a British socialite, needlewoman and magazine editor. Family and first marriage Lindsay ...

* Anthony Powell * Elizabeth Russell * Edith Sitwell * Osbert Sitwell * Sacheverell Sitwell * Eleanor Smith * David Tennant *

Stephen Tennant Stephen James Napier Tennant (21 April 1906 – 28 February 1987) was a British socialite known for his decadent, eccentric lifestyle. He was called "the brightest" of the "Bright Young People". Early life Tennant was born into British nobili ...

* Henry Thynne * William Walton *

Sylvia Townsend Warner Sylvia Nora Townsend Warner (6 December 1893 – 1 May 1978) was an English novelist, poet and musicologist, known for works such as ''Lolly Willowes'', '' The Corner That Held Them'', and ''Kingdoms of Elfin''. Life Sylvia Townsend Warner wa ...

* Evelyn Waugh * Rex Whistler *

Sunday Wilshin Sunday Wilshin (26 February 190519 March 1991) was a British actress and radio producer; the successor to George Orwell on his resignation in 1943. She was born in London as Mary Aline Wilshin (corroborated by publicly available birth records; ...

Olivia Wyndham Olivia Madeline Grace Mary Wyndham (30 November 1897 – 1967) was a British society photographer and a member of the 1920s socialite group known as the bright young things. The daughter of Colonel Guy Percy Wyndham, C.B., M.V.O. (a member of th ...

* Henry Yorke

List of 'Bright Young Things' and their associates

The following is a list of the Bright Young Things themselves, their friends, acquaintances and associates of the period, many of whom were the basis for characters in the novels written by members of the group such as Evelyn Waugh, Anthony Powell and Nancy Mitford, as indicated in the table below.

References

Sources

* (U.S edition) **(British edition)

External links

''Bright Young Things'' (2003)

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.com; Written and directed by Stephen Fry, based on Evelyn Waugh's novel '' Vile Bodies'' * {{Authority control 1920s in London British slang English culture History of subcultures Social class subcultures Social groups Stereotypes Social class in the United Kingdom Upper class culture in Europe