Daddy Long-Legs: A comedy in four acts

By Jean Webster

An unseen benefactor offers Judy Abbott an education, but anonymity turns opportunity into a compelling question of identity and obligation. Intelligent, spirited and determined to think for herself, the eighteen-year-old orphan leaves institutional discipline behind for college, where unfamiliar freedoms expose the distance between her upbringing and the assumptions of wealth. Her monthly letters to the guardian she cannot see become a lively record of curiosity, resistance and growing independence. Judy's voice drives this comedy in four acts. Humour and imagination sharpen her observations on classes, friendships and social expectations, while her ambitions as an author give writing a purpose beyond dutiful correspondence. The concealed identity at the centre of her guardianship creates an unusual tension: philanthropy has opened a door, yet class and dependence continue to shape the terms on which she may enter. Her refusal to be defined by the orphanage or by other people's ideas of gratitude gives the work its distinctive energy. Across college life, country surroundings and a wealthy household, the play examines who is permitted opportunity, who controls it and how a young woman begins to claim a life of her own. Education, belonging and women's prospects are woven into Judy's search for a personal voice, while the letter form keeps her unseen benefactor continually present without surrendering the mystery surrounding him. This book was out of print for decades and is now republished by Alpha Editions. It has been restored for today's and future generations. This edition is not just a reprint - it's a collector's item and a cultural treasure.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 9378413579
• ISBN13: 9789378413575
• Release Date: February 2027
• Publisher: Alpha Edition
• Length: 96 Pages
• Weight: 0.31 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.2" x 6.0" x 9.0"