Jean Webster

Born in Fredonia, New York, in 1876, Jean Webster was an American author remembered for her lively, accessible fiction. She studied at Vassar College, and her years there helped shape the bright, independent young heroines who appear throughout her work.

She is most closely associated with Daddy-Long-Legs and its sequel Dear Enemy, novels that combine comedy, romance, and a strong interest in education and social reform. Her writing often centers on spirited young women, and that blend of charm and conviction helped make her one of the best-loved popular writers of the early 20th century.

Webster died in 1916, shortly after the birth of her daughter. Even so, her reputation lasted well beyond her lifetime, with Daddy-Long-Legs in particular continuing to reach new readers through reprints and adaptations.