View source for For Esmé—with Love and Squalor (Salinger)

{{written by AI}}

{{Summary
| Title = For Esmé—with Love and Squalor
| Author = J. D. Salinger
| Literary form = short story
| Year of publication = 1950
| Microsummary = An American soldier stationed in England during World War II forms a brief but meaningful connection with a young girl named Esmé, who is wise beyond her years.
}}

{{Start of text}}

In April of 1944, an American soldier named X is stationed in Devon, England for a pre-Invasion training course. He is not very social and spends his free time wandering the countryside or reading. One rainy day, he attends a children's choir practice at a local church and is captivated by the voice of a young girl named Esmé.

{{Character
| Name = Esmé
| Description = young girl; wise beyond her years; intelligent, compassionate
| Emoji = 
}}

They strike up a conversation and Esmé reveals that she aspires to be a professional singer. 

{{Quote
| Text = I purely came over because I thought you looked extremely lonely. You have an extremely sensitive face.
| Context = Esmé approaches the narrator in the tearoom, offering him company and conversation.
}}

They discuss various topics, including her family and her father's death in the war. Eventually, they part ways, but not before Esmé asks X to write a story for her.

{{Quote
| Text = You’re quite sure you won’t forget to write that story for me? It doesn’t have to be terribly prolific! Just so that it isn’t childish and silly.
| Context = Esmé asks the narrator to write a story for her, expressing her interest in literature and her desire for something meaningful and thought-provoking.
}}

Several weeks later, X is back in Germany after the war and is struggling with his mental health. He receives a package from Esmé, containing a note and her father's broken wristwatch. The note expresses concern for X and offers the watch as a lucky talisman. X is comforted by the gesture and feels sleepy, finally finding some peace.


{{End of text}}