Daddy Long-Legs

Webster, Jean, 1876-1916Project Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 261K words
Chapters: 27

Summary

This is the Dutch translation of Jean Webster's classic epistolary novel Daddy-Long-Legs, released free of charge by Project Gutenberg. Told entirely through letters from the orphan Judy to her anonymous benefactor, it follows her from the orphanage into college life—her studies, friendships, observations of society, and her shifting feelings for the unseen "Daddy-Long-Legs," from complaint and teasing to dependence. The epistolary form keeps the narrative light and intimate; each letter is short, yet together they trace a complete arc of growth. Beneath the humor lie gentle reflections on charity, education, female independence, and class difference, delivered without preachiness. This edition suits readers who want to revisit a classic in another language or learn Dutch, and serves as an accessible introduction to early twentieth-century American women's writing. It is best not read merely as a youthful romance: the balance of self-reliance and gratitude in these letters is what makes the book endure.

Editor's review

Who it's for

A good fit for

Language learners who want to reread a classic in Dutch
Readers who enjoy epistolary narration and a light, humorous tone
Young adult and adult readers interested in female growth and independence
Readers looking for free public-domain foreign literature in e-book form

Not a good fit for

Readers with no Dutch who want only a Chinese translation
Readers expecting complex plots and strong dramatic conflict
Readers who prefer serious literary theory or deep social critique

Reading tips

Read the letters in order and note how Judy's tone shifts from reserved to lively.
Keep a notebook for unfamiliar Dutch words and review them every ten letters.
Around the midpoint, compare with an English or Chinese version to appreciate the language of the epistolary form.
After finishing, return to the first few letters to feel the contrast created by the character's growth.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this book the original Dutch or a translation?

It is the Dutch translation of Jean Webster's English original Daddy-Long-Legs; the title means "Daddy-Long-Legs" in Dutch. The original was published in the early twentieth century, and this electronic edition, released by Project Gutenberg, is a free public-domain work.

Can I read this Dutch edition without having read the original?

Yes. The story unfolds through letters with a clear plotline and requires no prior knowledge. If your Dutch is not yet strong, however, you may wish to read a Chinese or English version first for the plot, then use this edition for language practice; comprehension will be smoother.

What age group is this book suitable for?

The original is often classed as a coming-of-age book for young readers, but its discussion of education, poverty, and female self-reliance suits adults as well. Younger readers may benefit from reading with a parent or teacher to understand the period background.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

Webster, Jean, 1876-1916 Author

Jean Webster (1876–1916) was an American author. Public information about her education, awards and specific life experiences is limited; what can be confirmed is chiefly her literary output. Sixteen of her works are held in this collection, including Daddy-Long-Legs, Dear Enemy, Jerry, and Setä Pitkäsääri, Vadertje Langbeen, Het John Grier Home, Much Ado About Peter and Paras vihollinen, several of which are different-language versions of the same titles. Her writing often uses the epistolary form and a light, humorous tone, focusing on orphanages, the growth of young women and education, with lively dialogue and gentle social concern. Daddy-Long-Legs is her most widely circulated work and the one for which later readers remember her.