Dear Enemy [Hardcover]

Jean Webster (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0848803248 | ISBN-13: 978-0848803247 | Publication Date: December 1996

Jean Webster (1876-1916) was an American novelist, playwright, and social activist. During the start of the twentieth century (1912), Webster wrote "Daddy-Long-Legs", an epistolary, best-selling novel that she developed into a play. It met with much success, and the characters were sold as dolls, the money from which going to charities to help fund orphan adoptions. In 1915, Webster published the sequel, "Dear Enemy". Written in the same epistolary form, "Dear Enemy" met with best-selling acclaim as well. The novel is unique in that the story is propelled by crude, stick-figure animations, drawn by Webster herself, that add a whimsical air to the social issues addressed, the care of orphans and women's life choices in particular. Sadly, Webster died of childbirth fever in 1916, just a year after the success of "Dear Enemy".

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Alice Jane Chandler Webster wrote under the pseudonym of Jean Webster. She was an American author and wrote many books. Besides writing short stories, she also wrote stage-adaptations of her novels. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 350 pages
• Publisher: Amereon Ltd (December 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0848803248
• ISBN-13: 978-0848803247
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,979,178 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Minty fresh childhood favorite, January 15, 2003

By 

agtpeach (PA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dear Enemy (The Best Sellers of 1916 Series) (Paperback)

Jean Webster is best known for the classic Daddy Long-Legs. While it is certainly a worthy little novel, I have always preferred Dear Enemy, its lesser-known sequel. Daddy Long-Legs is vanilla, sweet and smooth. Dear Enemy is more like mint chocolate chip, refreshing with nuggets of warmth, laughter, bittersweetness. You will be enchanted by the fiery-haired Sallie McBride and her orphans.

Sallie has been asked by her college buddy, the Judy Abbott of Daddy Long-Legs, to run the John Grier Home, the orphanage Judy was raised in. A cheerful and unabashed socialite waiting for her Congressman boyfriend to propose, Sallie takes on the job on a temporary basis. Armed with her sense of humor and her firm brightness, along with her maid and her Chow doggie, she gets her heart stolen by the 100 sad-eyed charges.

The book is modeled after Daddy Long-Legs, so it is entirely composed of Sallie's stick-figure-illustrated letters to Judy, Gordon (the boyfriend), and the Home's prickly visiting doctor, whose letters are soon addressed "Dear Enemy." Her letters catalogue her daily adventures with the sweet, colorful kids, a series of cooks and farmers, sexist trustees, and grumpy neighbors. In all of this, there sparkles a strong feminine spirit, blithe optimism, and clear-headed compassion. The letters read so naturally and sure, Sallie's charm radiates whether she is amusing us with a story of orphan mischief or seriously discussing the consequences of hereditary alcoholism. The pace of the novel also clips along due to the relative shortness of the epistolary style.

As beguiling as the characters and story is, there are drawbacks that date the work (written in the 1910's) with its references to inherited behavior, social expectations, and nationalist stereotypes. A historical context is important for those. The overall voice is strong enough to carry the worthwhile messages - particularly, forging a future and identity for girls. I recommend this highly. There are books that you return to time and time again to comfort, entertain, and enlighten you - this is one of those I have treasured from my childhood. They need to bring this one back in print!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highest recommendation for girls...and women, too., July 12, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Dear Enemy (Hardcover)

This sequel to the classic "Daddy-Long-Legs" follows Sallie McBride through a year running her friend Judy Pendleton's orphanage. Less well-known than "DLL," "Dear Enemy" is really a better book. This is not a cutesy portrayal of orphans, but an amazingly honest look at the serious, even tragic price kids can pay for their parents'-- and society's -- shortcomings.

But there's plenty of fun and humor, and a wonderful realistic-yet-romantic storyline about the importance of making a wise choice. If you want a quality story for girls, Sallie's self-confidence, independence, and intelligent optimism make her a top-notch role-model. Women readers could find a lot to love about this book, too.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile!, August 9, 2000

By 

"tessiell" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Dear Enemy (Hardcover)

This book captivates you from the beginning and quickly has you turning pages. The letters, written by Sallie McBride from the orphanage while engaging, are also intriguing because they reveal only one point of view. But Jean Webster masterfully builds characters through Sallie's letters. As a mother of a child from an orphanage this book tugged at my heart. But you need not be an adoptive mom to enjoy this book.