The Salamander

"The Salamander" by Owen Johnson is a novel written in the early 20th century. The novel explores the lives of young women in New York City against the backdrop of social change and economic independence. The main character, Doré Baxter, embodies the archetype of the "Salamander," a spirited young woman navigating the complexities of a modern society that both attracts and repulses her. The opening of the book introduces us to the vibrant, chaotic world inhabited by Doré and her peers, who live in a boarding house and seek excitement amidst the trials of their ambition. The narrative reveals their playful conversations and their aspirations, interspersed with hints of the underlying seriousness of their lives as they balance the thrill of exploration with the harsh realities of their social circumstances. Doré is portrayed as a charismatic figure, eager for adventure and autonomy, embodying the spirit of the new generation of women challenging societal norms. The reader is drawn into her world of curiosity, where the thrill of living is painted vividly against the darker undertones of societal expectations. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Owen McMahon Johnson was an American writer best remembered for his stories and novels cataloguing the educational and personal growth of the fictional character Dink Stover. The "Lawrenceville Stories", set in the well-known prep school, invite comparison with Kipling's Stalky & Co. A 1950 film, The Happy Years, and a 1987 PBS mini-series, The Lawrenceville Stories, were based on them.