Other editions of book Daddy-Long-Legs by Jean Webster, Fiction, Action & Adventure

Eighteen-year-old Jerusha (Judy) Abbott always finds a reason to be happy. Hardworking and inquisitive, she has been brought up at the John Grier home. With no hopes for the future after completing her schooling, she works at the dormitories of the orphanage. But life seems to have something more in store for her. And what could be better than having her college education sponsored by one of the trustees ? All that Judy must do is write a letter every month to her anonymous benefactor. As Judy begins to share her experience with him in her letters illustrated with childlike drawings, will she ever get to know who he is.

Jerusha Abbott was brought up at the John Grier Home, an old-fashioned orphanage. The children were completely dependent on charity and had to wear other people's cast-off clothes. Jerusha's unusual first name was selected by the matron from a gravestone (she hates it and uses "Judy" instead), while her surname was selected out of the phone book. At the age of 17, she finished her education and is at loose ends, still working in the dormitories at the institution where she was brought up. One day, after the asylum's trustees have made their monthly visit, Judy is informed by the asylum's dour matron that one of the trustees has offered to pay her way through college. He has spoken to her former teachers and thinks she has potential to become an excellent writer. He will pay her tuition and also give her a generous monthly allowance. Judy must write him a monthly letter, because he believes that letter-writing is important to the development of a writer. However, she will never know his identity; she must address the letters to Mr. John Smith, and he will never reply. Judy catches a glimpse of the shadow of her benefactor from the back, and knows he is a tall long-legged man. Because of this, she jokingly calls him Daddy-Long-Legs. She attends a "girls college" on the East Coast.

Excerpt from Daddy-Long-LegsThings with. Once we walked into townwhere the college girls go for dinner. Broiled lobster (35 cents) and for dessert.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.comThis book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Jerusha Abbott is an orphan girl living in John Grier Home. She has overstayed in the orphanage for two years and earns her stay by helping to take care of the little children. She lives in fear that they might not let her stay there anymore when, one day, the matron informs her that a benefactor has offered to pay her tuition for college. The generous man has inquired about her and believes she has great potential. He wants to remain anonymous and his only requirement for Jerusha is that she writes him a letter every month. The girl starts calling her benefactor Daddy-Long-Legs, as the only thing she know about him is that he is tall. Changing her name to Judy is one of the first things Jerusha does once she is in college. Judy is a good student, she reads a lot and strives to catch up on all the things she missed being brought up in an orphanage. Her monthly letters to Daddy-Long-Legs are full of humor and feeling. She tells him about everything that happens in her life, both on a social and a personal level. Judy writes about her studies, her pastime activities, about the struggle of blending in and hiding her roots. She cannot help, however, feeling extremely sad that he never replies. Judy develops a strong connection with one of her colleagues’ uncle, Jervis Pendleton. She falls in love with him, in spite of the 14 years difference between them. At the end of the book, the identity of the mysterious benefactor is revealed and Judy is surprised to find out she knows him. Jean Webster is an American writer that has authored several books featuring strong female characters coming of age. Dear Enemy, Wheat Princess, When Patty Went to College are just a few of them.

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Daddy Long Legs is a beloved story in the spirit of Jane Austen, the Bronte Sisters, and Downton Abbey. This heartwarming Cinderella story about a witty and winsome young woman and her mysterious benefactor charmed audiences of all ages from Los Angeles to London, when it made its musical debut. Critics called the story one of the most enthralling, entertaining, and moving love stories. And now, you can listen to the story told by the musical's Jerusha Abbott herself, Megan McGinnis.

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