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42 pages 1 hour read

The Children's Hour

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1934

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Book Brief

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Lillian Hellman

The Children's Hour

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1934
Book Details
Pages

72

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

1930s

Publication Year

1934

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Lillian Hellman's The Children's Hour follows Martha and Karen, two women who open a girls' school together. Their lives unravel when a student, Mary, accuses them of having a romantic relationship, leading to scandal and loss. Despite suing for libel, they lose the case, and the fallout is devastating. The play was considered controversial for its sympathetic portrayal of same-sex attraction. The play addresses themes of false accusations and societal stigma surrounding same-sex relationships.

Dark

Unnerving

Emotional

Mysterious

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.3

14,692 ratings

72%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Lillian Hellman's The Children's Hour is lauded for its intense emotional impact and bold exploration of taboo topics, particularly the ramifications of deceit. Critics praise Hellman's ability to build suspense and develop complex characters. However, some argue that the ending is too melodramatic and the dialogue occasionally feels dated. Overall, it remains a powerful and provocative play.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Children's Hour?

A reader who would enjoy The Children’s Hour by Lillian Hellman is likely to appreciate intense psychological dramas and themes of deceit and moral conflict. Fans of A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams or The Crucible by Arthur Miller would find similar appeals in Hellman's play, with its exploration of the destructive power of lies and societal pressures.

4.3

14,692 ratings

72%

Loved it

20%

Mixed feelings

8%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

72

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

1930s

Publication Year

1934

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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