Generous donation to Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House celebrates Louisa’s important legacy

After capturing Louisa May Alcott’s legacy in a haunting portrait, Canadian artist Malcolm Hollyman has generously donated his work to Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House. Working off of a familiar daguerreotype of the Little Women author, Mr. Hollyman sought to portray Louisa’s complex life beyond that of a best-selling children’s author. ā€œI wanted to paint …

Louisa May Alcott’s exquisite needlework and its connection to “Jack and Jill”

I am indebted to my good friend Virginia Martin for alerting me to the latest issue of "Piecework" and the wonderful article by Lisa-Anne Bauch about Louisa May Alcott's needlework and its connection to one of her later juvenile novels, Jack and Jill. Bauch summarizes the plot and weaves Louisa's use of needlework to flesh …

February Little Women Film Festival at Orchard House

In anticipation of theĀ  Concord Players' performance of "Little Women: The Broadway Music" in April and May,Ā  screenings of all the major Little Women films will be taking place at Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House, at the School of Philosophy during the month of February: Visit the Concord Players website (scroll down) and Louisa May …

Embracing the holiday spirit with Louisa May Alcott’s Christmas stories

'Tis the season! Time to dust off and pull out your favorite Louisa May Alcott Christmas stories. Over the years I have posted on these stories and will be sharing those posts with you during this wonderful season. The best place to start is to point you to an article I wrote for Discover Concord …

In-person presentation on the life of Louisa May Alcott at the Leominster Public Library, Sunday, November 20

I am thrilled to be able to give, in person, a PowerPoint presentation on the life of Louisa May Alcott at the Leominster, MA Public Library on 30 West Street next Sunday, November 20th, from 2pm to 3:30. Come on down if you're in the area. A Q and A will follow - bring your …

Book Review: “Marmee, A Novel of Little Women” by Sarah Miller

Sarah Miller, the author of Marmee, A Novel of Little Women (William Morrow), believes that because Alcott wrote Little Women for children, she deliberately omitted some of the depth and nuance of her family members. ā€œLouisa May Alcott was writing for children at a time when children’s literature was overwhelmingly didactic,ā€ says Miller. ā€œShe felt obligated to insert the …

Narrating “Work, A Story of Experience” wins over a new Alcott fan

Rebecca Lee never dreamed that doing her job would gain her a new literary friend. An audiobook narrator, improv actor, and teaching artist, Lee produced Work, A Story of Experience for audible.com. Work, one of Louisa May Alcott's lesser-known adult novels, tells the story of heroine Christie Devon's ambition and struggle to work outside the …

Book Review: “Little Women Mermaid Edition” by Megan Lois Whitehill

Picture Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women: Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy March as mermaids adorned with long, graceful tails and pastel-colored hair, living under the sea. That’s what the niece of Megan Lois Whitehill inspired in the author when she requested a mermaid book for her birthday. The result is Little Women: Mermaid Edition (Rockwater Press). The result is a charming, …

How did May Alcott Nieriker’s “Studying Art Abroad” influence American art students flocking to Europe?

I am pleased to present this guest post by Lisa Francesca who is currently researching Carlotta Norton Smith, an art editor in New York’s Gilded Age. May Alcott Nieriker’s guide, Studying Art Abroad: And How to Do It Cheaply (Roberts Brothers, 1879), reads like a confidential chat over tea with a wise and experienced friend. …

Sign up now for next week’s Summer Conversational Series – theme is “Learning’s Altar” – The Rise of Adult Education and Lifelong Learning in Concord and Beyond

My thanks to the Barrow Bookstore for this announcement: Ā  The Louisa May Alcott's Orchard House Summer Adult Education series is returning this week! July 10-14, 2022. Ā  Started in 1879 as the dream of Bronson Alcott, the best conversation series brings speakers from around this world. This year’s presenters will include Dr. Kristina West, …

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