Her First Ball
by Katherine Mansfield
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At a glance:
- Author: Katherine Mansfield
- First Published: 1921
- Type of Plot: Domestic realism
- Time of Work: The early nineteenth century
- Setting: England
- Characters: Leila, The fat man
- Genres: Realism, Short fiction
- Subjects: Maturation or coming of age, Emotions, Dancing or dancers, Old age or elderly people, Parties
- Locales: Europe, England, United Kingdom
The Story
Leila, the young protagonist of “Her First Ball,” is thrilled though extremely self-conscious at the prospect of attending her first formal ball. Every detail, from the shared cab that takes her there to the coach bolster, which feels like the sleeve of an escort’s dress suit, contributes to her pleasure. Not even the Sheridan girls, amazed that she has never been to a ball before, can dampen her enthusiasm. She does feel less sophisticated than her companions; after all, she has been reared in the country, fifteen miles from the nearest neighbor, and her friends...
(The entire page is 1170 words.)
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Popular Questions
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