Daddy Long-Legs : A comedy in four acts by Jean Webster
"Daddy Long-Legs: A Comedy in Four Acts" by Jean Webster is a stage play written in the early 20th century. This work is a comedic drama centered on the life of a spirited orphan named Judy Abbott and her unexpected benefactor. The play explores themes of social class, philanthropy, and personal transformation as Judy's fortunes change through education and mysterious support. Key characters include the orphan Judy, the stern Mrs. Lippett, kind-hearted
Miss Pritchard, and Jervis Pendleton, a trustee with a hidden interest in Judy's future. The opening of the play introduces the audience to the John Grier Home orphanage, its somber and restrictive environment, and the daily struggles of the children—most notably, Judy Abbott. Judy stands out as intelligent, rebellious, and full of life, in contrast to the institution's rigid order. During the chaos of Trustees’ Day, Judy’s actions and fiery spirit draw the attention and criticism of the adults, but also the notice of Mr. Pendleton, who is convinced—after a passionate outburst from Judy—to fund her college education anonymously. The act ends with Judy’s elation at her new opportunity and her creation of the nickname "Daddy Long-Legs" for her mysterious patron, setting the stage for her journey beyond the orphanage. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Webster, Jean, 1876-1916 |
|---|---|
| LoC No. | 22017231 |
| Title | Daddy Long-Legs : A comedy in four acts |
| Original Publication | New York: Samuel French, 1914, copyright 1922. |
| Note | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daddy-Long-Legs_(play) |
| Note | Reading ease score: 87.4 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Credits | Susan E., Chris Hapka and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PS: Language and Literatures: American and Canadian literature |
| Subject | Comedy plays |
| Subject | Young women -- Drama |
| Subject | Philanthropists -- Drama |
| Subject | Women college students -- Drama |
| Subject | Women authors -- Drama |
| Subject | Orphans -- Drama |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 75857 |
| Release Date | Apr 14, 2025 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 972 downloads in the last 30 days. |
| Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free! | |
