Louisa May Alcott is My Passion
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.
Louisa May Alcott had remarked in her journal that memories of her November 29th birthday were not always happy ones. The gift of self-denial There’s the famous story of birthday number 3, celebrated at her father’s Temple School where, in the end, she had to deny herself her own birthday treat and give it to …
Continue reading "Happy birthday! Bronson Alcott at 216, Louisa at 183"
This ran in 2011 and captures Thanksgiving perfectly. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
One of Abigail Alcott’s best friends was author and abolitionist Lydia Maria Child. A successful children’s author in the mid 1800s, Child is best known for a poem about Thanksgiving, part of which is set to music: Here is an image from her three volume book called Flowers for Children, of the first few stanzas: …
Ever long to go to school as a child in a one-room schoolhouse? Sound romantic? The school of Bronson Alcott's childhood Madelon Bedell in The Alcotts: Biography of a Family described the nature of school in the days of Bronson’s childhood (early 1800s in Connecticut). If you were a child, would you want to be where: …
Continue reading "The reality of the one-room schoolhouse makes Bronson Alcott look pretty good …"
Bronson Alcott's favorite book of a lifetime was John Bunyon's The Pilgrim's Progress. He discovered it when he and his cousin William had begun to search through the homes of their neighbors for discarded books in order to create their own library. As a small child, tracing his letters in the sand on the floor, …
Continue reading "Reading is a love affair. Just ask Bronson Alcott."
Reading Eve LaPlante’s duo biography on Abigail and Louisa in Marmee & Louisa: The Untold Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Mother, I kept seeing references to a little-known book about Abigail titled Transcendental Wife by Cynthia Barton, published in 1996. Having just finished the book, I can see why LaPlante and other Alcott …
Continue reading "Cynthia Barton’s Transcendental Wife on the life of Abigail Alcott a must read"
Over the past few weeks I wrote the longest piece I have ever written, over 6000 words. Life has been far too busy for my taste lately so I could only work on it in bits and pieces. I have my hour carved out first thing in the morning for writing, beginning with the first …
Come on over to the Louisa May Alcott is My Passion Facebook page and let your feelings be known about the Little Women remake. I have articles for and against the remake, plus some casting ideas. We'd love to have you all join in! Like our page and join in the discussion: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Louisa-May-Alcott-is-My-Passion/138623432845648 Click to …
Continue reading "Join in the fun – voice your opinion on the Little Women remake"
Little did Louisa May Alcott know that when she wrote Little Women, her classic book based upon her own family life and their “queer” adventures, she was writing the story that was on the heart of all Americans. Universal family It was time when American yearned for its own literature, its own family. The March …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 