Daddy-Long-Legs

"Daddy-Long-Legs" by Jean Webster is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story centers around the protagonist, Jerusha Abbott, a bright and imaginative orphan who embarks on a journey toward independence and self-discovery after receiving a scholarship from a mysterious benefactor known only as "Daddy-Long-Legs." Through her letters to this benefactor, readers are introduced to her witty personality and her struggles as she attends college for the first time. The opening of the novel introduces readers to Jerusha's life at the John Grier Home for Orphans, highlighting the challenges she faces as the oldest orphan responsible for taking care of younger children. Her longings for a better life and her vivid imagination are evident in her observations of the outside world. After an unexpected conversation with a matron about her future, Jerusha learns of her imminent opportunity to attend college, funded by her anonymous benefactor. This unique arrangement requires her to write monthly letters updating him on her progress, setting the stage for her adventures and growth as she navigates college life, friendships, and her heartfelt ambition to become a writer. (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.