The book Our Hearts Were Young and Gay is written and narrated in the first person by Cornelia Otis Skinner and co-written by her dear friend Emily Kimbrough. It tells the story of the young authors, two hilarious and enchanting American girls, on a European adventure together to claim their independence. In this extremely wild, witty and well written story, we follow them around on their continental voyage from their cramped room on the ship to an old English inn, from the spot where Joan of Arc was killed to the Ritz Hotel in Paris. It is enjoyable and full of humor and yet, if one looks deeper, it isn't light or frivolous but really quite profound. Some of the things the girls do are so crazy and unbelievable that they may at first seem too ridiculous and yet somehow that is really what makes the book feel more realistic than other books.
Statue of Joan of Arc in Notre-Dame de Paris cathe...
A photograph of Theda Bara.
Cleopatra as portrayed by Theda Bara in the 1917 m...In fact, I'd say what makes it so remarkable and celebrated is how true-to-life it really is. Another proof that the book is not as superficial as it may initially seem is that there are symbols that represent deeper aspects in the story. All in all, it does an excellent job of balancing wit and ludicrousness with more significant character growth.
There are many scenes throughout the story that seem highly implausible and unrealistic. The very idea that two girls who can't be more then nineteen or so, still living with their parents, are allowed to travel half-way across the world is in itself implausible, although much more so for our over-protective cautious society than it would have been in the '20s when the adventures take place. Some other examples of far-fetched scenes are when Emily tips the bell-boy only a cent because she is unfamiliar...