The Journals of Bronson Alcott by Odell Shepard My rating: 5 of 5 stars I just finished reading The Journals of Bronson Alcott, edited by Odell Shepard. I was fascinated, stimulated and deeply moved. Let no one judge Bronson Alcott until they have done a thorough study of his life (which I have not yet …
A Louisa May Alcott Christmas: “The Little Red Purse”
From the Christmas Tales and Stories collection (Laura Ciolkowski, editor) comes a sweet, albeit typical offering from Louisa May Alcott known as "The Little Red Purse." Even though the essence of the story is very familiar (rich little girl learns how good it is to give to the poor), Louisa always manages to insert something …
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Holiday programs at Louisa May Alcott’s Orchard House
Christmas wouldn't be Christmas without the wonderful holiday programs at Orchard House! Here are their offerings: PLEASE NOTE THIS EVENT IS FOR MEMBERS ONLY. Interact with Living History portrayers in the festively decorated house, enjoy seasonal refreshments and music, catch up with old friends -- or make new ones -- and shop our Museum Store …
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A great find! Actual printing of Louisa’s last children’s story in St. Nicholas Magazine
A trip to the Book Bear in West Brookfield, MA never disappoints. A warehouse of antiques, rarities and just plain used books, The Book Bear has books on every subject imaginable. It's where I found the book on Nonquitt which showed rare photos of Louisa plus her summer house (now sadly destroyed by fire). It's …
A Louisa May Alcott Christmas: “A Christmas Turkey, and How It Came”
From the Barnes and Noble collection of Christmas stories by Louisa May Alcott calledĀ Christmas Tales and Stories (edited byĀ Laura Ciolkowsk) comes a sweet tale with a lot of fodder between the lines for those of us well-acquainted with the life of Miss Alcott. "A Christmas Turkey, and How It Came" The premise is familiar: a …
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Happy birthday! Bronson Alcott at 216, Louisa at 183
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 Thereās the famous story of birthday number 3, celebrated at her fatherās Temple School where, in the end, she had to deny herself her own birthday treat and give it to …
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An Old-Fashioned Louisa May Alcott Thanksgiving
This ran in 2011 and captures Thanksgiving perfectly. Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Thanksgiving memories from one of Abba Alcottās best friends, and an interesting parallel with Little Men
One of Abigail Alcottās best friends was author and abolitionist Lydia Maria Child. A successful childrenās 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: …
The reality of the one-room schoolhouse makes Bronson Alcott look pretty good ā¦
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 inĀ The Alcotts: Biography of a Family described the nature of school in the days of Bronsonās childhood (early 1800s in Connecticut). If you were a child, would you want to be where: …
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Reading is a love affair. Just ask Bronson Alcott.
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,Ā …
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Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 