The Lay Anthony: A Romance

** "The Lay Anthony: A Romance" by Joseph Hergesheimer is a tale set in the early 1900s. It follows Anthony Ball, a young man in a small town, struggling to find himself as he deals with love, societal pressures, and his own inner conflicts. The story is about being young and innocent, wanting something more, and seeing the difference between dreams and what's real. We first meet Anthony hanging out with friends, acting like he knows the world but really still a kid at heart. He's stuck between wanting to play baseball and feeling like he has to fit in, especially when it comes to girls. He meets Eliza Dreen, who changes how he sees things. As he figures out his feelings and what others expect, the beginning of the book shows us a touching look at being young, wanting something, and trying to be true to yourself in a world that seems fake. **