The Last Girls
The Last Girls by Lee Smith, published by Algonquin Books in January 2002, is a work of fiction that explores the lives of a group of women who reunite decades after their college days. Set against the backdrop of a journey down the Mississippi River, the narrative begins with a nostalgic trip taken by a dozen girls from a Blue Ridge women’s college in 1965. Now, thirty-five years later, four of these women come together again aboard the luxury steamboat, The Belle of Natchez, to honor the memory of their friend Margaret, known as “Baby,” by scattering her ashes in New Orleans.
In this edition, readers will find a rich exploration of the complexities of female friendships and the passage of time. The story delves into the lives of Harriet, Courtney, Catherine, and Anna, each navigating their own challenges and memories as they reflect on their past. Lee Smith’s narrative reveals the nuances of romance, memory, and desire, offering insights into how these women have evolved from their youthful selves into the women they are today. With 384 pages, this edition provides a detailed and engaging look at the themes of friendship and the impact of shared history on personal identity.
Official synopsis Publisher
On a beautiful June day in 1965, a dozen girls-classmates at a picturesque Blue Ridge women’s college-launched their homemade raft (inspired by Huck Finn’s) on a trip down the Mississippi. It’s Girls A-Go-Go Down the Mississippi read the headline in the Paducah, Kentucky, paper.
Thirty-five years later, four of those “girls” reunite to cruise the river again. This time it’s on the luxury steamboat, The Belle of Natchez, and there’s no publicity. This time, when they reach New Orleans, they’ll give the river the ashes of a fifth rafter-beautiful Margaret (“Baby”) Ballou.
Revered for her powerful female characters, here Lee Smith tells a brilliantly authoritative story of how college pals who grew up in an era when they were still called “girls” have negotiated life as “women.” Harriet Holding is a hesitant teacher who has never married (she can’t explain why, even to herself). Courtney Gray struggles to step away from her Southern Living-style life. Catherine Wilson, a sculptor, is suffocating in her happy third marriage. Anna Todd is a world-famous romance novelist escaping her own tragedies through her fiction. And finally there is Baby, the girl they come to bury-along with their memories of her rebellions and betrayals.
THE LAST GIRLS is wonderful reading. It’s also wonderfully revealing of women’s lives-of the idea of romance, of the relevance of past to present, of memory and desire.
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