Speaking of classics, have you ever read “Hamlet”? If you haven’t, do it right off. It’s perfectly corking. I’ve been hearing about Shakespeare all my life, but I had no idea he really wrote so well; I always suspected him of going largely on his reputation. (62)
from a letter from Jerusha Abbott to the anonymous patron of the orphanage who sends her to college
from Daddy-Long-Legs
by Jean Webster
a perfectly corking epistolary novel about a foundling who goes to off to college and finds herself
Nathalie Foy 
Oh, I really like that cover. This was the cover they had at my school library, which is why I’ve never read this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Long-Legs-Classic-Jean-Webster/dp/0590440942
Mmmm. I can see how that might turn you off. The illustration is not at all true to her fiesty spirit. She looks like too much of a dreamer there. The illustration on the cover of mine is by Webster herself, as are the illustrations in the book. I do confess that those umbrellas were a significant draw to buying it (last year! I’m still at 0 for this year and it’s already been 13 days.)
Run, do not walk, to the nearest library/bookstore and get Webster’s even better book, Dear Enemy. (See my review here: http://community.livejournal.com/bookcrossing/237858.html – you’ll need to scroll down a bit)
My copy is an omnibus with _Dear Enemy_ included. I had reshelved it after finishing DLL, thinking I’d save the sequel for a rainy day….
You’ll like the sequel! I might even like it better — I don’t know. It’s not quite as charming in some ways, but I am a sucker for books where the main character goes in and creates order where previously there was disorder. Dear Enemy is about Sally McBride taking over the running of Judy’s old orphan asylum, and she fixes it all up, and it’s just so satisfying.
I’m glad you liked Daddy-Long-Legs. It’s been one of my favorite books since I was a kid.
Oh, what a wonderful line–it made me laugh out loud! Definitely going on my to-read list.
I thought you’d like that one! I recommend the book highly. A fun, light read, largely improbable, but style makes up for any lack of verisimilitude.
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