The photobook explores the social milieu and fashion of the 1920s and 1930s British elite through Cecil Beaton’s refined black-and-white portraiture. It captures the essence of the ‘Bright Young Things,’ a group known for their hedonism and aristocratic glamour during the interwar period.

Through meticulously composed images, Beaton reveals both the performative aspects of youth culture and the subtle nuances of personality beneath the surface. The collection offers insight into the exuberance, style, and contradictions of a historically significant social set.

Cecil Beaton’s Bright Young Things was published by the National Portrait Gallery in 2020, contains 280 pages, and is identifiable by isbn 9781855147720.