The Secret of the Old Clock

“Her father, Carson Drew, a well-known lawyer in their home town of River Heights, frequently discussed puzzling aspects of cases with his blond, blue-eyed daughter. Smiling, Nancy said to herself, ‘Dad depends on my intuition.’”

In this first page of the first book in the Nancy Drew series, the author explicitly defines the respectful relationship between Nancy and her father. Given that the book was first written in 1930, a male parent’s willingness to listen to the advice of an 18-year-old female would have been uncommon. Even more uncommon for the time was respect for intuition as opposed to logic.

“Convinced now that the little girl was all right, Nancy said she must leave. ‘Come to see me again soon,’ Judy spoke up. ‘I like you, Nancy. You’re my saving girl.’”

This quote illustrates the aphorism regarding the wisdom that comes out of the mouths of babes. Judy sees Nancy as her personal savior because the teen rescued the child from a fall off a bridge. Little does Judy know that Nancy is everybody’s “saving girl,” both in this novel and in the series as a whole.

“‘He’ll understand why you’re taking a special interest in this case. Will you do it? Please!’ ‘I know you like to help people who are in trouble,’ her father said. ‘I suppose I could invite Mr. Rolsted to have lunch with me tomorrow.’”

This quote pairs with the preceding one because it once more illustrates the degree to which Nancy likes saving people. Her father is well aware of her tendency to take on crusades. Again, given the era, his respect for his daughter is remarkable. He doesn’t dismiss her desire to help as feminine sentimentality, nor does he discourage her pursuit of justice. He quietly helps further her investigation.