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The Twelve Pound Look
Paperback
ISBN13: 9781026056844
Publisher: Tradd Street Press
Published: Feb 14 2026
Pages: 190
Weight: 0.60
Height: 0.40 Width: 6.14 Depth: 9.21
Language: English
The Twelve Pound Look is a masterful one-act play by J.M. Barrie that offers a sharp, satirical examination of Edwardian social hierarchies and the quest for female independence. The story centers on Sir Harry Sims, a successful and self-satisfied man preparing for his knighthood. His world is disrupted when he hires a typist to handle his celebratory correspondence, only to discover she is his former wife, Kate.
Through their biting and revelatory conversation, the play explores why Kate chose to leave a life of material comfort for the uncertainty of self-employment. The title refers to the specific cost of a typewriter-the literal price of Kate's freedom and her ability to support herself. Barrie brilliantly deconstructs the pomposity of the upper class while celebrating the quiet dignity of a woman who values her autonomy over societal prestige and hollow titles.
This work remains a significant piece of early 20th-century drama, noted for its wit, economical storytelling, and progressive perspective on marital dynamics. It highlights the shifting social landscape of the era and the burgeoning movement for women's economic empowerment, making it a compelling read for students of classic drama and social history alike.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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