Jerry Junior

"Jerry Junior" by Jean Webster is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows Jerymn Hilliard Jr., a young American man who finds himself in the charming yet uneventful Italian village of Valedolmo as he waits for his family to arrive. The narrative dives into his interactions with the locals, particularly the whimsical and picturesque situations that arise from his attempts to alleviate his boredom in a peaceful, rural setting. At the start of the book, the protagonist is introduced in a leisurely hotel courtyard where he is awaiting a letter from his sister. Despite his somewhat languid demeanor, Hilliard displays a sharp sense of humor, engaging in banter with the head waiter, Gustavo. The dialogue sets the tone for the novel, hinting at a blend of comedic and romantic developments as Hilliard learns about the American family, specifically Constance, living nearby. As he discovers his feelings of solitude in the village, the stage is set for possible romantic entanglements, foreshadowing the delightful adventures that await him in his search for companionship and excitement. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Jean Webster was the pen name of Alice Jane Chandler Webster, an American author whose books include Daddy-Long-Legs and Dear Enemy. Her best-known books feature lively and likeable young female protagonists who come of age intellectually, morally, and socially, but with enough humor, snappy dialogue, and gently biting social commentary to make her books palatable and enjoyable to contemporary readers.