Bernice Bobs Her Hair

"He wondered idly whether she was a poor conversationalist because she got no attention or got no attention because she was a poor conversationalist."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald, Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1920)

Bernice Bobs Her Hair (1920), by F. Scott Fitzgerald, was first published in the Saturday Evening Post and later in his short story collection, Flappers and Philosophers (also available from Cosimo Classics). When protagonist Bernice travels to visit her beautiful socialite cousin, Marjorie, she is deemed socially awkward by Marjorie and her clique. Bobbing her hair seemed to be the road to popularity, but in the end proved too scandalous. Fitzgerald based his idea on Berenice II of Egypt, who sacrificed her hair to the gods to gain victory in warfare; however, persona non grata Bernice gains little. This entertaining tale of social status is sure to enthrall fans of Fitzgerald and The Jazz Age.