Dawn O'Hara: The Girl Who Laughed (1911) is a novel by Edna Ferber.
Written while the author was recovering from a bout of anemia, Ferber's
debut marked the beginning of an illustrious literary career. Inspired
by her experience as a reporter in the city and countryside, Dawn
O'Hara: The Girl Who Laughed is the story of a young woman who
recognizes the unhappiness in her life and decides to risk it all for
something better. Lighthearted in nature, Ferber's novel recalls the
best of Fitzgerald in its unswerving commitment to humanity in all its
beauty and terror. "'Newspaper reporting, h'm? In New York? That's a
devil of a job for a woman. And a husband who... Well, you'll have to
take a six months' course in loafing, young woman. And at the end of
that time, if you are still determined to work, can't you pick out
something easier--like taking in scrubbing, for instance?'" As though
suffering a mental breakdown wasn't bad enough, Dawn is forced to listen
to the snide advice of a doctor who seems to know more about her home
and professional life than she does. Determined to maintain her career
as a reporter, she decides to move to a small town and start fresh. Away
from the hustle and bustle of New York City, she hopes to find success
while learning more about herself in the process. With a beautifully
designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of
Edna Ferber's Dawn O'Hara: The Girl Who Laughed is a classic work of
American literature reimagined for modern readers.
