The Long Day: the Story of a New York Working Girl (Dodo Press)

The Long Day: The Story of a New York Working Girl, As Told by Herself was originally published in 1905 by Century Company in New York. It was written by Dorothy Richardson (1882-? ), a middleclass woman who at the time the book was released, remained anonymous. The Long Day is a book about the life of a working- class girl in America. Formerly a teacher in a small town, she is now alone in New York City, living day to day on a few dollars. She lives from boarding house to boarding house, experiencing harsh rules, starvation, and the death of a friend. Furthermore, she works in a number of different positions, including box-making, flower/feather making, sewing, and finally, a shaker. Throughout this time, she learns what it is like to live on a few dollars a week, working twelve-hour shifts with horrible conditions and few breaks. Ultimately, she is able to earn a respectable living as a typewriter.