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At the age of eighteen, the orphan Jerusha Abbott is plucked from the institution and put through college by a mysterious benefactor. His only condition is that she write him a letter every month, to practice the writers' craft. Her colorful letters about college life are accompanied by drawings from Webster's own pen.
I'm not sure how I came across this classic epistolary book and I had never heard of the author Jean Webster before. Since it was an easy reading YA novel, I read a few chapters each evening. Even given odd title, which finally makes sense mid-way through the book, I actually liked this story. The main character is 'Judy' who lives in an orphanage. She catches the attention of a trustee who decides she has potential as a writer and pays her way to attend college. As part of the agreement, Judy must describe her progress in a letter to the benefactor, but no return correspondence will be offered and the benefactor's identity must remain secret. In some ways this story reminded me a little of Anne of Green Gables, not just due to the orphan theme but also because of the main character's habit of speaking her mind and sometimes later regretting the outburst. ( )
Un libro delizioso, per me un vero tuffo nel passato, per riassaporare la magia e le atmosfere di una storia d’altra tempi. Le vicende di Judy sono raccontate attraverso le lettere che scrive al suo misterioso benefattore, John Smith, che le paga gli studi, da lei soprannominato Papà Gambalunga per le lunghissime gambe che sono anche la sola cosa che di lui ha potuto intravedere di sfuggita. Una storia dolce e romantica ma che è al tempo stesso anche una storia di forza e di riscatto, e che racconta quanto ancora fosse difficile la condizione della donna agli inizi del secolo scorso. Scritta con spirito e tanta simpatia si legge con tantissimo piacere. ( )
I remember reading this as a kid and really liking it, and it is rather remarkable how well I remembered the story and how much I still enjoyed the book. The story is relatively simplistic: an orphaned girl is sponsored by a nameless benefactor to attend college, with the stipulation that she write to the nameless benefactor, whom she dubs "Daddy-Long-Legs" regularly. Following the initial set-up, the story is told entirely in the letters Judy writes to DLL. As an adult, I am slightly put off by DLL's manipulation of Judy's life, but only slightly. I still found the book utterly charming. And now I discover there is a sequel! Or frappulous joy! ( )
This entry is for the book Daddy-Long-Legs, first published in 1912. Please do not combine with the 1919 Mary Pickford film, the 1931 Janet Gaynor/Warner Baxter film, or the 1955 Fred Astaire/Leslie Caron film.
At the age of eighteen, the orphan Jerusha Abbott is plucked from the institution and put through college by a mysterious benefactor. His only condition is that she write him a letter every month, to practice the writers' craft. Her colorful letters about college life are accompanied by drawings from Webster's own pen.
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