Anybody Can Do Anything

Debora Weston reads Betty MacDonald's comic novel about life as a single mother in America during the Great Depression.

Mary is certain that anybody can do anything, especially her sister Betty, who leaves her husband and his chicken ranch and returns to the bosom of her warm and noisy family in Seattle.

Betty leaves her husband and returns to her warm and noisy family in Seattle.

Mary gets Betty a job as a shorthand typist, but she does not know shorthand and cannot type.

Debora Weston reads Betty MacDonald's comic novel about life as a single mother in America during the Great Depression.

Mary sets up a string of disastrous dates for Betty.

February 1933 is a terrible time to be out of a job.

Even Mary has a hard time lining up interviews for Betty.

Unlike Mary, Betty is hopeless at selling advertising, so she gets work as a photographic tinter, a fur coat model-cum-book-keeper and secretary to a mobster.

Debora Weston reads Betty MacDonald's comic novel about life as a single mother in America during the Great Depression.

During the worst of the Great Depression, Betty and her sisters have to find cheap ways to have fun.

During the worst of the Depression, Betty and her sisters must find cheap ways to have fun

Betty discovers that the Friendly Loan Company is not all that friendly when she cannot keep up her payments.

Mary gets Mother a job as a radio dramatist and Betty has to work with the sinister Dorita

Mary gets Mother a job as a radio dramatist and Betty has to work with the sinister Dorita

Betty resolves never to go to another office party.

Mary tells a publisher about Betty's wonderful new book, which is news to Betty, too.