Little Women in Dinan, France

This is a wonderful post on Daniel Shealy's book, Little Women Abroad, and especially singles out May Alcott's experience as an artist in Europe. The blogger provides a map of places to visit and many photos of the different sites Louisa and May visited.

Book review: Little Women An Annotated Edition, edited by Daniel Shealy

I am delighted when Gabrielle Donnelly, author of The Little Women Letters (see previous post) offered to review this wonderful new edition of Little Women. Ed. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * There are two ways to read Daniel Shealy's …

Greetings from the Beyond

You may recall the last post I wrote aboutĀ Work: A Story of Experience where I reiterated the religious importance of this autobiographical novel by Louisa May Alcott.Ā  I was moved by the consolation Christie Devon received as described in chapter 19, "Little Hearts-Ease." She heard husband David's "voice" as the breeze blew near his flute. …

New book: Little Women An Annotated Edition, edited by Daniel Shealy: it’s gorgeous!

I just received my copy of Little Women An Annotated Edition, edited by Daniel Shealy and I was stunned by the beauty of the book! Don't be fooled by the cover - it doesn't begin to tell the story. This is a gorgeous oversized edition (9.6 x 9.3 x 2 inches) with an elegant choice …

The million dollar question, and the priceless answer

Following up with my last post about the lecture I attended at New North Church featuring John Matteson, author of Eden’s Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father, there is a question I have wanted to ask Matteson since I started reading his book almost two years ago. How is it that …

An evening with John Matteson: Bronson Alcott as educator, the family’s relevance, and the author’s personal journey

Hingham, Massachusetts’ New North Church has been running a three-part series on ā€œThe Alcottsā€ featuring Eve LaPlante (Marmee & Louisa: The Untold Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Mother, My Heart is Boundless: Writings of Abigail May Alcott, Louisa’s Mother), John Matteson (Eden’s Outcasts: The Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Father) and …

The solace I find in reading, writing and Louisa May Alcott

I rarely devote posts to personal musings but I just had to today. We just dropped off our twenty-seven year-old son at the bus station as he makes his way back to New York after a week at our home. He was granted an unexpected vacation from his job as a preschool teacher and was …

Lizzie Alcott’s keyboard: seraphine or melodeon? What’s the difference? And which one is it?

I recently read an intriguing line in Eve LaPlante's book, Marmee & Louisa: The Untold Story of Louisa May Alcott and Her Mother regarding the keyboard that Lizzie Alcott used to play. It reads: In 1847, "Abigail, who had acquired a keyboard instrument called a seraphine, gave the children regular music lessons, as her mother …

Dr. Daniel Shealy’s take on Louisa May Alcott’s fantasy stories

I had a lovely phone conversation with Daniel Shealy who has written essays on Louisa’s pioneering efforts as a fairy tale and fantasy writer. He has edited a volume known as Louisa May Alcott’s Fairy Tales and Fantasy Stories, which is a complete collection. I asked him the following questions; the answers are paraphrased but …

Love this blog – Louisa May Alcatt – feminism in the form of a torti cat (the cat with the most ‘tude!). Here the author shares the anniversary of Lizzie’s death with a lovely tribute.

Louisa May Alcatt's avatarSuffragette Kitty

Today, March 14, is the 155th anniversary of the death of my sister Lizzie. Many of you are familiar with her gentle character, Beth, from my book, Little Women.

My sweet little sister died young, at the age of 23, just a few months before our family moved into the Orchard House. I don’t want to focus too much on death here, so let’s celebrate her life.

The antithesis of me, Lizzie was relatively quiet and very content. She loved music and played the piano often for our family and guests. She also loved kittens! It was so like Lizzie to provide a home to a stray cat wandering around Concord or our native Pennsylvania. So, I am sure she is thrilled that we are now the Alcatts. I’d also like to think that Lizzie’s acts of kindness then paid forward today and helped me find the purrfect home.

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