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.
I recently tried a couple of the exercises in Corinne Hosfeld Smith's book, Henry David Thoreau for Kids--"Record Wild Animal Behavior" and "Draw a Sound Map." It was a wonderful time outdoors and I was surprised how much I heard! Here's my Sound Map: I wrote more about this on my other blog (Be as …
Continue reading "On the journey to harmonyāThoreau, the Sound Map and opening up the inner eye"
In the last post covering John Matteson's talk at the Colonial Inn I mentioned Bronson Alcott's Sonnets and Canzonets, published in 1882 and how they reveal the heart of the man. Each sonnet or canzonet isĀ dedicated to his wife, daughters and many luminary friends such as Ralph Waldo Ā Emerson, Henry David Thoreau and Margaret Fuller. …
On Saturday, April 2 many of us had the distinct pleasure of hearing Pulitzer-prize-winning author John Matteson speak at the Colonial Inn in Concord for the Friends of Sleepy Hollowās annual breakfast. His talk was titled āHow Nurse Alcott Earned Her Star: The Author of Little Women and the Civil War.ā He was referring to …
As promised, here is an extensive and fascinating interview with Corinne Hosfeld Smith, author of Henry David Thoreau for Kids (see previous post for review). I see that you became interested in Henry David Thoreau in high school, having read "Civil Disobedience" and Walden. What was it about Thoreau that attracted you? First of all, …
Continue reading "Talking with Corinne Hosfeld Smith, author of Henry David Thoreau for Kids"
Henry David Thoreau for Kids is geared towards children ages nine and up but I am going to review this book as one for adults as well. Abridged version of Thoreau Cutting right to the chaseāI loved this book. As a perpetual student of Louisa May Alcott and as someone who appreciates nature, I have …
While doing my spring cleaning I came across a CD of favorite hymns, played on exquisite music boxes. My husband and I acquired the CD at a most unusual museum, The Musical Wonder House in Wiscasset, ME. Rich and I vacationed in nearby Booth Bay Harbor back in the 1980's and spent many days at …
Continue reading "Beautiful music box renditions of Lizzie’s favorite hymns"
From Women and Health in America (first edition) there is this intriguing essay titled "What Ought to Be and What Was: Womenās Sexuality in the Nineteenth Century" by Carl N. Degler. Quoting Dr Charles Taylor, 1882ā āIt is not a matter of indifference whether a woman live a single or a married life ā¦ I …
Continue reading "Louisa May Alcott was not the only Alcott working off sexual energy"
This comment from Diana regarding a previous post prompted a discussion on whether or not Louisa May Alcott was gay: āWhat is your opinion of the evidence that she may have had some suppressed passion, such as crushes, on girls? Remember she said in an interview that she had been in love with so many …
Wow, what a great discussion on the last post! I am preparing one as we speak about female friendships in Louisa's time. There is a wonderful essay I've been studying in Women and Health in America and will get a post up later this week. In the meantime, one of our industrious readers thinks she …
Continue reading "Continuing in the same vein … where is Laddie?"
Julian Hawthorne once speculated about Louisa May Alcott: āDid she ever have a love affair? We never knew; yet how could such a nature so imaginative, romantic, and passionate escape it?ā Choosing the life of a spinster Louisa made the conscious decision to remain single, preferring to āpaddle my own canoe.ā Much has been made …
Continue reading "Where did Louisa May Alcott’s sexual energy go? And what fueled it?"
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 