Begun in 2010, this blog offers analysis and reflection by Susan Bailey on the life, works and legacy of Louisa May Alcott and her family. Susan is an active member and supporter of the Louisa May Alcott Society, the Fruitlands Museum and Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House.
Care to guess how many pages there are in these books? And guess what 95% of those many words are about. Goodness!
Fortunately, I’m only looking for references to Lizzie. Curious thing – there are many letters to Anna and Louisa but hardly any directly to Lizzie or May (except when all the sisters are addressed). And few references to Lizzie at all, except when she’s dying.
She really was the shadow sister! The mystery continues …
Actually … 🙂 I was combing over the letters last night for more references to Lizzie and started getting into the details he presents in the letters! Someone wrote me a while back, a relation to Bronson through his brother, Chatfield. I couldn’t find a thing on Chatfield when I googled him but Bronson references him frequently in his letters to his mother and Junius. It’s obvious that he was very close to Junius judging from all the letters he wrote him.
Also, the letters he wrote to his children were very tender and sweet, even to Louisa. I saw one longer one he wrote to Lizzie just before they went to Fruitlands that touched me with its warmth and affection. Later when she was older, he referenced her and spoke with such pride about how well and cheerfully she performed domestic duties.
Lol. I was partly kidding, since I have scholarly and even pedantic tendencies myself. But there are some quotes itching at my mind about Bronson’s “train wreck” writing and something else derogatory about it by a contemporary. Can’t be bothered to look right now.
Emerson was certainly never shy about Bronson’s poor writing style! But this was when Bronson was trying to write a serious work – then he’d get self-conscious about it. The letters and journals don’t suffer from that so much.
Are you passionate about Louisa May Alcott too?
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 
I want to read these!! 😀
No way, really? Wow!! 🙂 Your library ought to have them.
Nope. Only Louisa. 🙂
🙂
I suppose some of this is the syndrome of many first baby pictures, then they dwindle. But still… yes, a mystery.
Of course, good point!
Someone (Jillian) actually wants to read Bronson Alcott’s ramblings? What is the world coming to? 😉
Actually … 🙂 I was combing over the letters last night for more references to Lizzie and started getting into the details he presents in the letters! Someone wrote me a while back, a relation to Bronson through his brother, Chatfield. I couldn’t find a thing on Chatfield when I googled him but Bronson references him frequently in his letters to his mother and Junius. It’s obvious that he was very close to Junius judging from all the letters he wrote him.
Also, the letters he wrote to his children were very tender and sweet, even to Louisa. I saw one longer one he wrote to Lizzie just before they went to Fruitlands that touched me with its warmth and affection. Later when she was older, he referenced her and spoke with such pride about how well and cheerfully she performed domestic duties.
Lol. I was partly kidding, since I have scholarly and even pedantic tendencies myself. But there are some quotes itching at my mind about Bronson’s “train wreck” writing and something else derogatory about it by a contemporary. Can’t be bothered to look right now.
Emerson was certainly never shy about Bronson’s poor writing style! But this was when Bronson was trying to write a serious work – then he’d get self-conscious about it. The letters and journals don’t suffer from that so much.