Jean Webster
What if a single unexpected opportunity could change the course of an entire life?Jean Webster’s Daddy-Long-Legs is a witty, warmhearted classic coming-of-age novel about education, independence, friendship, romance, and the exhilarating discovery of a world filled with new possibilities. Told largely through letters, this beloved epistolary novel introduces one of classic literature’s most spirited and memorable heroines.Jerusha 'Judy' Abbott has spent her childhood in the John Grier Home, an orphanage where life is governed by routine and expectations for the future are painfully limited. Everything changes when an anonymous wealthy trustee notices her talent for writing and offers to pay for her college education. There is only one unusual condition: Judy must write regular letters describing her studies and experiences, even though her mysterious benefactor will never reply.She knows almost nothing about him. After briefly seeing only his long shadow, Judy gives the unknown man a playful nickname-Daddy-Long-Legs.College opens an entirely new world. Surrounded by books, friendships, new ideas, holidays, social traditions, and opportunities she never imagined, Judy begins the challenging and joyful process of creating a life for herself. Her letters capture everything with irresistible humor and honesty: academic struggles, embarrassing misunderstandings, literary ambitions, friendships, questions about wealth and social class, and the excitement of discovering who she wants to become.As Judy grows from an uncertain orphan into an intelligent and independent young woman, she develops ambitions of becoming a writer and begins to question the dependence that once seemed unavoidable. Gratitude toward her anonymous guardian gradually exists alongside a powerful desire to earn her own place in the world.And then there is Jervis Pendleton.Intelligent, unconventional, and refreshingly different from the wealthy society Judy has learned to observe with a critical eye, Jervis gradually becomes an important part of her life. What begins as friendship develops into something deeper, leading toward a revelation that will transform Judy’s understanding of the mysterious benefactor who has been silently following her journey.Webster’s distinctive epistolary storytelling gives the novel much of its enduring appeal. Through Judy Abbott’s lively letters, readers experience her world directly-her excitement, frustrations, mistakes, victories, hopes, and wonderfully independent opinions. Her voice is clever, affectionate, rebellious, and remarkably modern, making her an unforgettable heroine of early twentieth-century American literature.Perfect for readers who enjoy classic women’s fiction, vintage romance novels, epistolary fiction, college coming-of-age stories, orphan heroines, literary classics, and uplifting stories of self-discovery, Daddy-Long-Legs combines humor and romance with a meaningful celebration of education and personal freedom.At its heart, this timeless classic is about far more than a mysterious benefactor. It is about a young woman discovering that her beginnings do not have to determine her destination. Judy Abbott is given an opportunity-but what she builds from that opportunity belongs entirely to her.Charming, intelligent, romantic, and full of optimism, Daddy-Long-Legs is a beautifully engaging story about finding your voice, pursuing your dreams, opening yourself to love, and gaining the confidence to become the author of your own life.Rediscover Jean Webster’s beloved classic and follow Judy Abbott through letters, laughter, friendship, ambition, and an unforgettable journey toward independence and love.
