Warning: this is a long post but I believe, well worth the time. I was so fascinated when I first heard the presentation at the Summer Conversational Series that I opted not to take notes and just enjoy it!) At the recent Summer Conversational Series, Kristi Marti (tour guide de force; she has been a …
2014 Summer Conversational Series: Margaret Fuller and the Problem of Female Genius
The Conversational series welcomed back a perennial favorite in John Matteson whose Pulitzer-prize winning book Edenās Outcasts is a standard in Alcott scholarship. He has also written a fine book on Margaret Fuller called The Lives of Margaret Fuller; she was the focus of his presentation entitled ā āThe Mind in the Full Glow of …
Summer Conversational Series 2014: Bronson Alcott as the father of modern child psychology
My thanks again to Kristi Martin for sharing her notes and her photos with this site. Kristina West's presentation highlighted the educational work of Bronson Alcott and his role as arguably the father of modern child psychology.Ā This is one workshop I wish I had not missed. Westās careful study of Bronson serves to redeem him …
Summer Conversational Series 2014 Tuesday Sessions: the visuals of Little Women and a lost fantasy
My thanks to Kristi Martin for taking notes and providing pictures for these sessions. Tuesday, July 15 featured Beverly Lyons Clark, Lauren Rizzuto and Kyoko Amano. Disclaimer: Since I was not there to hear the presentations, I am inserting my interpretation of the notes. Hopefully they are accurate! Beverly Lyons Clark āThe Vortex or the …
Summer Conversational Series 2014 ā āNavigating the Vortex: Creative Genius in the Time of the Alcottsā ā the role of Faust
Continuing with the Monday sessions, Dr. Stephen Burby was a new face on the scene. He currently teaches English in Brentwood, NY and has authored of AP English Language and Composition: An Apex Learning Guide (2004 and 2005 editions) as well as contributing to the production of editions in Barronās No-Fear Shakespeare series and to …
Summer Conversational Series 2014 ā āNavigating the Vortex: Creative Genius in the Time of the Alcottsā ā Is it Talent or Genius?
I am grateful to be able to attend again the annual Summer Conversational Series at Louisa May Alcottās Orchard House this year. The theme concerns talent versus genius, and the abundance of genius that existed in Concord, Massachusetts in the 19th century. I was not able to take in all five days of the series …
In search of Bronson Alcott’s birthplace
I am pleased to present this guest post by Laurel Langdon who has discovered the exact location of Bronson Alcott's birthplace. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Nagging question. Did anyone really know where Bronsons birthplace was? …
Childrenās book recommendation: Beyond Little Women by Susan Bivin Aller
Because a childrenās book opened the way to my passion for Louisa May Alcott, I am always interested in reading other accounts meant for children. So when I came across Beyond Little Women A Story about Louisa May Alcott I was eager to read it. It was published in 2004, written by Susan Bivin Aller …
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A clash of civilizations, a loss of oneās heritage, and the courage to change: A review of Flight of the Sparrow by Amy Belding Brown
Note: When Amy Belding Brown asked me to review her latest book, I jumped at the chance; Mr. Emersonās Wife had been a game-changing book for me. I smiled when I read of her interest in finding out more about Puritan life since Transcendentalism, explored in her previous book, was a strong reaction to that …
May Alcott’s “Gay Paree”
Charline Bourdin of the Louisa May Alcott En France blog just sent me the most charming pictures of summertime Paris and Meudon where May Alcott Nieriker lived in the 1870s. Seeing these pictures gave me such a rush and I could see why May was so inspired. I traveled to this area as a teenager …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 