44 pages • 1 hour read
Lillian HellmanThe Little Foxes
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 1939A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
Set in 1900 Alabama, Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes follows the Hubbard siblings—Regina, Ben, and Oscar—who scheme to build a cotton mill to amass wealth, manipulating family, love interests, and societal roles. Meanwhile, family secrets unfold, leading to treachery and domestic conflict as Regina aims to control her ailing husband's share of the investment. Features violence, substance abuse, and racism.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
The Little Foxes by Lillian Hellman is highly acclaimed for its gripping narrative and sharp critique of greed and moral decay. Critics commend Hellman's strong characterizations and powerful dialogue. However, some feel the play's intense focus on avarice may overshadow other thematic elements. Overall, it remains a riveting and thought-provoking drama.
Who Should Read The Little Foxes?
Readers who appreciate The Little Foxes by Lillian Hellman typically enjoy intense family dramas and complex power struggles. Comparable to works like A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams and Long Day's Journey Into Night by Eugene O'Neill, this audience values intricate character development, moral ambiguity, and Southern Gothic themes.