Everybody was so Young by Virginia Vallie

Review of Everybody was so Young

By: Amanda Vaill

            The Fitzgerald’s, Hemingway, Picasso, and Cole Porter are famous for their art and often studied in school, but not a lot is heard about Gerald and Sara Murphy, the caretakers of this group.  Sara was adored by all with Fitzgerald, Hemingway, and Picasso all falling in love with her.  Gerald was a father figure and guide to them.  He was fascinated with how mechanics worked and became a painter known for his artwork such as “Watch” with shows the mechanism of a watch along with similar things.  He and Sara were involved in everything such as throwing lavish parties for their group and were always there for them.  They were supportive, but also honest with them, but didn’t appreciate it when their friends used them for inspiration for their work, especially when the work was disrespectful and unkind.  One of the prime examples being Scott using them as reference for the Divers in Tender is the Night.  They especially weren’t happy with Fitzgerald’s mixing fact and fiction. 

This very detailed biography shows how well the author did her research.  She devotes the first couple chapters giving the background of both Sara and Gerald and how they grew up.  We learn about their relationships with each family member.  Sara’s parents weren’t persuaded to marry her off right away and her mom thought that when they announced wanting to get married it was just an infatuation and that Sara would change her mind.  The rest of biography dives into 1920s and each of their relationships with each of the people they brought into their friend group, focusing most on their friendship with the Fitzgerald’s and Hemingway. Viall also highlights Gerald’s confusion on his sexuality something that Scott Fitzgerald could relate to adding another layer to their relationship. Both relationships were complicated and often messy, and despite how Scott and Ernest were selfish assholes, the Murphy’s are loyal.  Though overly detailed, Vaill talks about the Murphy’s, I wanted to be friends with them and felt for the couple when they suffered. Vaill did a great job at making aware of this couple I had not known about as part of the famous group of artists from the 1920s.