Louisa May Alcott often drew from the deep well of memories to craft her stories.Ā Little Men is full of such detail and itās fun to pick out these autobiographical elements. Highlighting her father For example, Louisa gives us a revealing portrait of her fatherās unique ideas about disciplining children in Chapter Four, āStepping-Stones,ā where the …
Join the Louisa May Alcott Summer Reading Challenge on Goodreads
Naturally I couldn't pass this one by! I hope you'll join too. Here is the link to the challenge on Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1380885-louisa-may-alcott-summer-reading-challenge The challenge is open until August 10 and the rules are simple: Choose the books you plan on reading Write a blog post about the books you are reading and place the link …
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Elisabeth Alcott through the eyes of her father
By the time Elisabeth Sewall Alcott was born, Bronson had moved on from chronicling the daily activities of his daughters to exploring the soul. In Edenās Outcasts, John Matteson writes that āElizabeth was fairer than her elder sisters and ā¦ was the model of serenity that Bronson had vainly hoped Anna and Louisa would be. …
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A day at Houghton: Getting to know the inner Bronson through his own hand
Ever since last July I have dreamed of the day I could return to the Houghton Library at Harvard and Saturday was that day. I had made a connection with one of the librarians who had supplied me with scans of three of Abbaās letters (see previous post). She told me that a collection of …
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Book Review: Fruitlands Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect by Gloria Whelan
One of you (Julie) gifted me with a wonderful book and once I picked it up, I could not put it down. The book, geared for older children, is called Fruitlands Louisa May Alcott Made Perfect by Gloria Whelan. A lost diary The premise of the book is based on Louisaās diary kept at Fruitlands. …
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Little Men: The Good Man (chapter 3, “Sunday”)
As mentioned in a previous post about the art of domesticity, I have been reading Little Men, or Life at Plumfield with Jo's Boys. The audio book version from Librivox.org has actually been my companion while doing yard work and gardening these past few Saturdays. Keeps my mind off of my aching joints and bones! …
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Finishing up Eight Cousins: Your own worst enemy
Having finally finished Eight Cousins, it amuses me that an overarching theme of this book is that women can be their own worst enemy. Who comes out well ā¦ For Rose, Uncle Alec is the hero and the boys are her true friends. Anyone who knows anything about Louisa May Alcott knows her penchant for …
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Much-needed repairs to The Wayside will close the historic house for two years
Be aware if you are visiting Concord: The Wayside, once known as Hillside to the Alcotts, will be closed for renovations for the next two years. Minuteman National Park which maintains the home has acquired the much-needed funds to effect repairs. Neighborhood walking tours will be given for free by the Wayside tour guides as …
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Eight Cousins and Little Men: The art of domesticity
I am finally getting around to finishing Eight Cousins. I admit this book has not held my interest like I hoped it would but now that Iām getting closer to the end, Iām enjoying it more. Perhaps I know too much back story (such as the fact that Louisa didnāt really enjoy writing this type …
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Letter from an anguished mother: Abba writes of her sojourn with Lizzie to the North Shore
Work is progressing, albeit slowly, on my book project. I am enjoying all aspects of the process from the thinking and planning while I drive (Iām one of those crazies that talks to myself all the time), to the research, to the paragraphs percolating in my head, to the final writing. Iām falling more in …
Louisa May Alcott is My Passion 