Bab: A Sub-Deb

"Bab: A Sub-Deb" by Mary Roberts Rinehart is a novel written in the early 20th century. This humorous and light-hearted work explores the experiences of a young woman navigating the challenges of adolescence and society's expectations. The book offers insights into the social dynamics and cultural norms of its time. The story centers around the titular character, Bab, who is a charmingly naive and somewhat self-absorbed young girl. Throughout the narrative, Bab deals with her friendships, romantic interests, and the pressures of growing up in a society that often places unrealistic expectations on young women. As she interacts with her peers and family, the tale provides a humorous yet poignant reflection on the trials of youth, self-discovery, and the quest for identity amidst societal constraints. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Mary Roberts Rinehart was an American writer, often called the American Agatha Christie. Rinehart published her first mystery novel The Circular Staircase in 1908, which introduced the "had I but known" narrative style. Rinehart is also considered the earliest known source of the phrase "the butler did it", in her novel The Door (1930), although the exact phrase does not appear in her work and the plot device had been used prior to that time. She also worked to tell the stories and experiences of front line soldiers during World War I, one of the first women to travel to the Belgian front lines.