Seventeen (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Booth Tarkington
- First Published: 1916
- Type of Work: Novel
- Type of Plot: Comic realism
- Time of Work: Early twentieth century
- Setting: A small Midwestern town
- Genres: Long fiction, Psychological fiction
- Subjects: Maturation or coming of age, Adolescence, Teenagers, Love or romance, Twentieth century, Midwest, Manners or customs, Obsession, Small-town life, Boys, Summer
- Locales: Midwest (U.S.)
Characters Discussed
William Sylvanus Baxter, a seventeen- year-old suffering the relentless self-consciousness of that awkward age. The story begins on the day that William (“Willie” to his family, “Silly Bill” to his friends) falls in love at first sight with Lola Pratt, a beautiful summer visitor. As the one-sided romance unfolds, he must endure much from the world. His peers do not seem to realize that Miss Pratt is his girl, not theirs. His parents persist in treating him like a child, his little sister embarrasses him at every opportunity, and the general...
[The entire page is 949 words long]
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