Summer Conversational Series 2018: Cathlin Davis “Learning to Be Herself: Alcott’s Lessons in Peer Pressure”

Note: This is a long post of over 3000 words. It’s also a core topic of Little Women’s relevancy for teenagers especially when it comes to conformity versus non-conformity, and peer pressure. It’s well worth the read for those of us who wish to pass down Little Women to our daughters and sons, nieces and …

Summer Conversational Series 2018: All-star panel discusses the legacy of Little Women

Note: I am pleased to present this guest post by British Alcott scholar Kristina West. On Sunday 15 July 1879, Bronson Alcott opened the first session of the Concord School of Philosophy; on the same date in 1879, Louisa May Alcott was the first woman in Concord to register to vote. In 1868, this day …

Summer Conversational Series 2018: Anne Boyd Rioux: ā€œMeg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Mattersā€

The last lecture of the day was given by Anne Boyd Rioux on her new book, Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters. First encounter with Little Women Anne did not read Little Women as a child; it had not given to her by her mother or grandmother. …

Summer Conversational Series 2018: Elif Armbruster: ā€œā€˜I rather miss my wild girl:’ Reclaiming Jo March as an original ā€œNasty Woman.ā€

Elif Armbruster is a new voice to the Summer Conversational Series. An Associate Professor of English at Suffolk University in Boston, she specializes mid-to-late 19th and early 20th century women’s literature. With the conception of both the ā€œNasty Womanā€ and #metoo movements, Elif developed a course on notable Nasty Women in literature. Of course, Jo …

Summer Conversational Series 2018: John Matteson: ā€œLittle Women at 150: A conversationā€

The day began with a conversation with the venerable, entertaining and much-loved Pultizer-prize-winning Alcott author and scholar John Matteson. He remarked on his good fortune to have this association with Orchard House and everyone present admitting that ā€œI come here and I don’t feel worthy.ā€ The kindness, goodness, and dedication that he feels every time …

Important blogs to know about regarding the Alcotts

There are two wonderful sites that you need to see: Little Women 150 One is by noted Alcott scholars Anne Phillips and Gregory Eiselein called Little Women 150: Louisa May Alcott's Little Women: A 150th Anniversary Celebration. The blog will feature weekly posts covering each chapter, written by Phillips and Eiselein along with other contributors …

Why Little Women still matters: A review of Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy by Anne Boyd Rioux

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the publication of a classic read by millions around the globe. Written by Louisa May Alcott, a writer under duress fulfilling the assignment of an insistent publisher, Little Women, in the words of Anne Boyd Rioux is the ā€œparadigmatic book about growing up, especially for the female half …

Louisa May Alcott’s inspiration of sculptor Frank Edwin Elwell — one of “her boys”

I am pleased to present this guest post by Lorraine Tosiello. With the May Alcott Nieriker conference coming up, it seemed appropriate to share this with you. In 1878, Louisa May Alcott, overwhelmed with grief over her dear Marmee’s death and burdened with her own poor health and responsibilities at home, gave up what would …

Highlights from Jo’s Boys by Louisa May Alcott

As part of the Louisa May Alcott reading challenge hosted by the In the Bookcase blog, I pledged I would read and post on Jo’s Boys and Anne Boyd Rioux’s latest, Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters. This post will be about Jo’s Boys. I am fortunate …

Writer In Bloom – looking to Louisa May Alcott for strength and inspiration

This is the first of what I hope will be many guest posts by the several talented writers, teachers and scholars who follow this blog. You all have much to say and I enjoy sharing it on this blog. This is a piece by Jill Fuller. When I am stuck in my writing or mired …