The Salamander

The Salamander by Owen Johnson, written just a few years prior to that heady period of time, so well captured in the writings of F. Scott Fitzgerald, et. al. Johnson really captures the flavor and spirit of young women, flocking from small towns across the country to the shining big city, New York. They called themselves Salamanders and are the fore runners to the better known flapper's of the 1920's. Wild, fun and free . . . . they mostly felt they had just a few years (18 - mid twenties) to grab all life had to offer, before being forced to settle down in one way or another. Audacious, charming and beautiful living on a shoestring, except at night, where the skies the limit depending on the beau or admirers. is the main character and we follow her life as a Salamader and all who come into her orbit. A look into the lives of these new women who were shacking off the shackles of what a woman should be in dress, lifestyle and theory.