Zona Gale's Miss Lulu Bett and Selected Stories

Lulu Bett, the unmarried protagonist, resides in a small town with her sister Ina and Ina's husband Dwight, a self-righteous and smugly domineering dentist. Lulu has resigned herself to the confines of her roles as chief cook, housekeeper, and gracious presence, unable to question the limitations imposed on her. However, when Dwight's sophisticated brother Ninian visits, Lulu discovers a surprising wit and the boldness to accept his playful marriage proposal.

Through the appealing and determined character of Lulu Bett, author Zona Gale satirically challenges a range of social assumptions prevalent in her time, from male supremacy to the perceived security of marriage. First published in 1920, "Miss Lulu Bett" was immediately acclaimed and went on to become one of the bestselling novels of the year.

Alongside four of Gale's short stories, including the O. Henry award-winning "Bridal Pond," "Miss Lulu Bett" reflects the author's broad progressive interests and her fast-paced, affecting prose, which made her one of the most popular writers of her era and a classic American storyteller.

The novel has been widely praised for its literary merit, with Robert Benchley of The World describing it as "a great book ... the telling is almost incomparable." The Atlantic Monthly lauded it as "Eloquent ... Miss Lulu Bett is without flaw," while The New Republic hailed it as "a signal accomplishment in American letters" with "a narrowly limned beauty."

Through its engaging narrative and incisive social commentary, "Miss Lulu Bett" has endured as a beloved and influential work of American literature, offering readers a captivating exploration of gender roles, societal constraints, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment.

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