The Optimist's Daughter by Eudora Welty
The story revolves around a woman who returns to her southern hometown to care for her ailing father. After his death, she is confronted by the harsh realities of her past and the complexities of her present. She navigates through the difficult dynamics of her family, her father's young second wife, and the superficial social circle of her community, all while grappling with her own grief. The novel explores themes of memory, loss, and the often complicated relationships within families.
The 1349th greatest book of all time
- Published
- 1972
- Nationality
- American
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 180-208
- Words
- 56,000
- Original Language
- English
- Alternate Titles
- None
If you're interested in seeing the ranking details on this book go here
This book is on the following 6 lists:
- 20th on The Best Southern Novels of All Time (Oxford American)
- Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (Pulitzer Prize)
- 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die (The Book)
- The Modern Library: The Two Hundred Best Novels in English Since 1950 (The Modern Library (Book))
- Nancy Pearl's 100 Good Reads, Decade by Decade (Book Lust (Book))
- A Response to David Handlin’s “One Hundred Best American Novels” (The American Scholar)